Söring Claims Uni Hamburg Event Cancelled due to Threats of "Disruption"

They certainly didn't come from me.

Counter-protest against a speech by German far-right speaker Björn Höcke, 9 September 2021, in Grimma, Germany. Credit: Leipziger Zeitung

Jens Söring has now published an email on his website from Milan Kuhli, the professor at the University of Hamburg who was one of the co-sponsors of the appearance by Jens Söring. In it, Kuhli states that the appearance was canceled because of threats that it would be “disrupted” (gestört).

Let me make one thing clear: I did not in any way threaten to disrupt the presentation. In fact, in my emails to the organizers, I explicitly stated that I would not in any way try to prevent the event from happening as scheduled — although I would provide commentary to interested parties and the press before and afterward, and would ask questions if given the opportunity.

If any person contacted the organizers and threatened to disrupt the proceedings, I condemn that in the strongest terms. I believe deeply in free speech and vigorous debate. Shouting down or threatening a speaker is a violation of these principles, and is never appropriate. I have repeatedly publicly denounced protesters at German and American universities who have disrupted lectures or presentations.

I should note that disrupting a speaker can be a legal form of protest under Art. 5 of the German constitution. Speeches by controversial public figures such as Björn Höcke or Thilo Sarrazin or Sahra Wagenknecht or Jörg Baberowksi are routinely met by counter-protests and disruptions. In fact, students at the University of Hamburg have disrupted speeches by controversial speakers. That’s all part of living in a robust democracy with strong free-speech protections. Rude, angry, aggressive, disruptive speech is also speech.

Yet regardless of whether it may be legally permissible or not, I view disrupting a public event because you disagree with the view expressed there as morally wrong and (less importantly) counterproductive. I have never engaged in such a disruption, and never will. I have never encouraged anyone to engage in such activity, and I never will. Anyone who falsely claims that I have will hear from my lawyer.

If anyone reading this threatened to disrupt Jens Söring’s speech at the University of Hamburg, you made a grave mistake (and may have committed a crime, depending on what you threatened to do) and should re-think your priorities.