Freedom of Speech!!

I was at a meeting for my Students' Union a few days a go; we were required to look through the couple of proposed policies that will be voted for in the next couple of weeks in the forth-coming referendum. One policy was regarding fascism and racism. Whilst, in general I agree that we should do anything to keep these two things to a minimum I feel that this motion may be going to far.Banning Racists and Fascists To extend existing policies to prevent individuals or groups who advocate or express racist or fascist views from having any involvement in the Union, or its events. This Union Notes: 1. Campuses are often targets for fascist and racist groups seeking to recruit new members as well as to spread their beliefs. 2. Students and students’ unions have a long and proud record of achievement in the fight against racism and fascism. This Union Believes: 1. That racism and fascism are still rife within society. 2. That in line with the Union’s Equal Opportunities Appendix, the Union should be at the forefront of the campaign to combat prejudice and bigotry. 3. That racism and fascism are fuelled by tensions along the lines of race, religion, nationality or ethnicity, and that racists and fascists often seek to exploit these tensions. 4. That by complimenting the Equal Opportunities Appendix with a No Platform Policy, we can step up the challenge to racism and reinforce our commitment to fighting fascism. 5. That we must balance freedom of expression with protection from fascist and racist groups. 6. That a No Platform Policy safeguards the Union’s members from being subjected to lies, bigotry and hatred. 7. That a No Platform Policy that cannot be enforced when it is needed is ineffective. This Union Resolves: 1. Not to allow any person who can be shown to have advocated or expressed, or to be likely to advocate or express, racist or fascist conduct, attitudes or views to have any involvement with the Union and to ban any such person from entering Union events and buildings. If the person is a Union member they should be dealt with via the Union disciplinary process. 2. That the President will ensure that this is carried out as far as is legally possible since the presence of such individuals could lead to disorder and endanger the safety of Union members. 3. That no Union Officer shall share a platform with any known racists or fascists at any Union event; or any other event in their capacity as an Officer. 4. That Union Council be strongly urged to discipline any Union Officer found to be in breach of this policy through a motion of censure or a vote of no confidence. 5. That any Union event that is likely to be in breach of this policy may be prevented from taking place or closed down whilst in progress by any two Sabbatical Officers. a. That the Union will withhold funding/demand repayment for the event in question subject to contractual obligations. b. That the organiser(s) of the event be held personally responsible if they are Union members. 6. That the Welfare and Equal Opportunites Officer will maintain a list of recognised racist and/or fascist groups that are banned by this policy. a. That this list shall only be amended by Union Council, General Meeting or Referendum. b. To liaise with the NUS and ‘Searchlight’ for up-to-date information concerning racists and/or fascist groups. 7. To empower and require the President to deal with potential or actual conflicts between Societies that could exacerbate tensions between students along the lines of race, religion, nationality or ethnicity, such as tensions erupting in relation to international conflicts. 8. To mandate the Societies and Student Development Officer to liaise with the relevant Societies to ensure that events organised by them reflect the Union’s commitment to tolerance and understanding (e.g. no offensive or inflammatory speakers or publicity). 9. To require all Societies to notify the Societies and Student Development Officer in the planning stages of any activity that would potentially cause or exacerbate tension between students at the University along the lines of race, religion, nationality or ethnicity. 10. To make breach of the No-Platform Policy a disciplinary offence. 11. To lapse policy 500 ‘No Platform for Racists or Fascists’ and 453 ‘Anti-Racism and Anti-Fascism’. 12. To publicise this policy to all, and to encourage the University to adopt a similar policy. 13. To mandate the Anti-Racism Campaigns Convenor and request any relevant Societies and groups to mount a campaign on the dangers of racism fascism, and to formulate a policy on how best to fight it. 14. To support anti-racism campaigns, and anti-fascism campaigns which are run by the NUS. In this policy it advocates that the Union could ban anyone from the Union or its activities purely because they may cause trouble. Is it really justifiable to punish someone purely cause they may do something before they have even done it?Also, is it ok to supress someone expressing there beliefs, in a manner which is not trying to convert anyone to their way of thinking, in case they may offend someone else? For example, theoretically under this policy I would have to very careful when it comes to me expressing my views on how the political situation in Northern Ireland should be sorted out even though I do not go round telling people what they should believe but just what I think should happen given that I have lived there for such a long period of time and studied ther history of the country in a good bit of detail. Is this fully justified?