It has been brought to my attention that a person renowned for hate speech and discriminatory attacks is scheduled to perform at Beau Sejour next year. In my opinion, and the opinion of many decent, good-natured people, she should not be given a platform whatsoever, let alone on our island or within our public facilities.

For Beau Sejour to platform such a person gives a strong message that our government, civil service, and community supports her heinous, harassment-fuelled opinions. This is contrary to our anti-discrimination legislation, racial hatred law, inclusive community values, and close kinship to refugees given our Occupied history. For years, she has very publicly made scores of divisive comments, and appears to base her entire personality on division and hate for the sake of personal gain and attention.

Her bigoted attacks have been made towards almost every person, particularly if they are experiencing suffering, discrimination, or some form of marginalisation. This bullying includes: women and girls, larger people, ginger people, medical patients, Muslims, people of the global majority (non-white people), religious people in general, people from the working class, pensioners, Scottish people, parents, refugees and asylum seekers, LGBTQ+ people, feminists, people with mental health issues, people with geographical names (of which her daughter is one), and likely others. She has called for people to be put in internment camps, rejects multiculturalism, and supports racist racial profiling.

All of this is very well documented. I would be interested to understand why on Earth the Beau Sejour events team agreed to accept this booking. I am sure the ‘performer’ in question comes to mind without even having to name her, but in case it was not clear, I am speaking of Katie Hopkins.

I can only imagine her ‘comedy’ set will include plenty of harmful and unacceptable ad-hominum attacks that would likely constitute as discrimination and hate speech, which are unlawful, as well as violating human rights. Regardless if it does, to attend and to host this event is implied support of her extensive repertoire of atrocious acts and statements.

It is well known that those unable to make a ‘joke’ without it being at the expense of another person is a poor comedian indeed, with little wit, intelligence, or humour. While marginalised people themselves can joke at their own expense, as somebody with a position of significant privilege, she has no licence to be making such jokes towards those she targets with regularity. 

I have contacted Beau Sejour to ask that they please do not host this person. I urge others who agree to do the same, to have conversations about this, and to boycott this event. Let’s keep islander money within our economy, rather than financing and endorsing this terrible, awful person. At length, I urge islanders to cancel their subscriptions to Beau Sejour and avoid using the facilities until this event has been removed, with a promise not to platform such people in future. 

Governments have a responsibility to prohibit hate speech and incitement in order to prevent harm. Free speech can be justifiably restricted in certain cases, and I strongly believe this is one of such cases. For our government to allow this person a platform at Beau Sejour entirely subverts their duty of care to islanders whose identities she has so vehemently attacked.

It is definitely not a good move for the States, nor Education, Sport and Culture, while attempts are being made to restore public opinion of them.

Emily Hubert