Libertarians Counter Protesters

February 1983

On December 11, 1982, Vancouver Libertarians achieved their biggest publicity coup to date. On that day, women's and anti-porn groups staged mass demonstrations at all Vancouver Red Hot Video outlets, demanding that they be shutdown. Eleven libertarians were there with the other side of the story.

For weeks the media deluged the public with coverage of lobbying and anti-porn publicity, topped off with reports of two firebomb attacks on Red Hot stores. Nowhere was freedom of speech even mentioned and those advocating it were ignored.

Peter Walters, at the suggestion of a friend, setup a counter-demonstration for Libertarians. Once again, individual initiative proved to be the backbone of the Libertarian movement. With just a few phone calls, Peter arranged demonstrators, signs, and media coverage, and the "Committee Against Aggressive Violence" was formed.

Media interest was considerable. BCTV, CBC, The Province, The Sun, and The West Ender all interviewed spokesmen Morley Evans and Marco den Ouden. CAAV members distributed news releases.

The demonstration did not advocate pornography. It advocated freedom of speech and condemned those who would use violence against peaceful traders, whether they acted violently themselves or merely demanded that the government do so on their behalf.

Libertarians pointed out that opponents of Red Hot Video had many nonviolent courses of action open to them and that demanding government action was not only wrong, it was futile: their demonstration itself was called because of their frustration with government's failure to deal with their concerns.

Most parties have been very sensitive to the issue of freedom of speech since that day, and new advocates are being heard. Individual action, even on a small scale, produces results.