Not even twenty minutes had passed into the discussion between guest speakers Carl Benjamin and Yaron Brook at King’s College London before free speech was suppressed. Swarms of violent protestors stormed the lecture theatre, with masks and bandanas, hurling verbal abuse and inciting physical attacks. We were faced with a chilling demonstration of contemporary fascism. I was chairing the discussion, at King’s College London, ironically devoted to free speech and Ayn Rand’s Objectivism. The speakers had different angles, and the audience were invited to make up their own mind. Although for some, rational debate was not the aim.
A large bang announced their arrival. Around thirty came through the back doors, going straight for the speakers and myself on stage. It was clear their objective was maximum disruption. They let off a smoke bomb to set off the fire alarm, intimidated the audience, smashed windows, and hospitalised a security guard on the door.
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