Labour slammed for evicting conference heckler

[Guest guest]

http://www.itn.co.uk/news/1844626.html [there's a photo on the website]

 

 

 

Labour slammed for evicting conference heckler

 

11.32PM, Wed Sep 28 2005

 

The Labour Party Conference is embroiled in controversy after an

82-year-old man was bundled out of a speech on the war in Iraq for

heckling.

 

Walter Wolfgang - who fled Nazi Germany in 1937 - shouted " nonsense "

at Jack Straw over his speech and he was briefly detained under the

Prevention of Terrorism Act after he tried to re-enter the conference.

 

The manner of his removal has shocked other delegates and sparked

accusations that Labour are stage managing the conference and stifling

free speech.

 

A second man, constituency party chairman Steve Forrest from

south-east London, was also thrown out of the conference after

complaining at Mr Wolfgang's treatment at the hands of stewards.

 

An investigation has been launched into the incident. A party

spokesman said: " The Labour Party reserves its rights to remove from

the conference site people who cause a persistent disturbance.

 

" However it is clear from TV footage that the way in which Mr Wolfgang

was removed was inappropriate and the Labour Party will apologise to

Mr Wolfgang for this. "

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.signs-of-the-times.org/signs/signs.htm

 

Blair apology to ejected heckler Security staff tackle hecklers

 

BBC

 

Tony Blair has apologised to an 82-year-old Labour activist thrown out

of the party's annual conference by stewards for heckling Jack Straw.

 

Walter Wolfgang, of London, was ejected after shouting " nonsense " as

the foreign secretary defended Iraq policy.

 

The prime minister told BBC Breakfast: " I am really sorry about it, it

shouldn't have happened. "

 

Labour says Mr Wolfgang can return for the conference's final day

provided he does not make further disturbances.

 

Police stopped Mr Wolfgang under the Terrorism Act when he tried to

re-enter on Wednesday, seizing his pass.

 

Mr Wolfgang, who escaped Nazi Germany in 1937, is a member of the Stop

the War Coalition.

 

His heckle came as Mr Straw told delegates: " We are in Iraq for one

reason only - to help the elected Iraqi government build a secure,

democratic and stable nation. "

 

Manhandled

 

Mr Wolfgang, a Labour member of 57 years' standing, afterwards told

BBC Two's Daily Conference Live programme: " These two toughies came

round and wanted to manhandle me out.

 

" I said: 'Do you want me to leave? I will leave, you don't need to

manhandle me.' Physically, I am not too well, so I said I would follow

them.

 

Erith and Thamesmead constituency party chairman Steve Forrest, who

was sitting next to Mr Wolfgang, was also thrown out after complaining

about the stewards' response.

 

Comment: Mr Wolfgang, an 82-year-old veteran anti-war campaigner and

Jewish fugitive from Nazi Germany who lost family in the Holocaust,

probably knows a thing or two about how freedom of speech is

suppressed. He is clearly also able to recognise state propaganda when

he sees it.

 

On Tuesday at the Labour party conference, he spoke up and rightly

labeled as " nonsense " Foreign Secretary Jack Straw's blatant lie that

British troops were only in Iraq to keep the peace, and was roughly

ejected for his efforts.

 

This, then, is the true face of Blair's " New Labour " , where any

dissent is treated with zero tolerance. Most worrying of all however,

is the fact that, after being kicked out, Mr. Wolfgang was prevented

from re-entering the conference by Police under new British

" anti-terror " laws, an act that seems to provide proof that " a

terrorist " includes anyone that simply protests or speaks their mind

in a peaceful manner, or better said, anyone who publicly exposes the

lies of our leaders.

 

That's the real shock for all those with ears to hear.