Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, July 9, 2003

Protest planned for Irving film

JEWISH students will stage a protest outside tomorrow night’s Melbourne screening of a film by Holocaust denier David Irving.

Australasian Union of Jewish Students Victorian vice-president Geoffrey Kozminsky said a candle-lit service, including a speech from a Holocaust survivor, would be held outside the Melbourne theatre.

“It’s not going to be a rally. It’s a small ceremony … we’ll be handing out pamphlets to people coming in about the Holocaust,” Mr Kozminsky said.

The Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) lost its bid on Monday for a temporary injunction preventing the screening, but will appeal the decision in the Supreme Court on the grounds the film incites hatred against Jews.

Mr Kozminsky said the group had considered the possibility of attracting more publicity for Mr Irving and would endeavour to keep the protest low-key.

“We’re not looking to create a big media storm. We’re not going in there with ‘David Irving’s a liar’ on banners, we are just handing out fact sheets to people that are there,” he said.

The film: The Search for the Truth in History, was made in response to the refusal to allow the British historian entry to Australia in 1993.

A Melbourne Underground Film Festival spokeswoman said security would be bolstered at the screening at the Bughouse Omniplex in Flinders Lane, and police had been informed.

She said the festival had received up to 500 phone inquires regarding ticket sales for the film.

– AAP

 Gerard Henderson writes of Intellectual garbage by David Irving

 Australia’s Jews protest plans to screen a film made by Irving

 Feb 1993: “The Search for Truth in History”, videotaped speech to Australians, after Labour Government refused David Irving permission for a third tour

 Sam Lipski reviews Irving video in The Australian, May 21, 1993

 May 30, 1993: Australian newspapers report: “Israeli secret agents linked with bugging” device found in Irving Video Censorship Bureau

 Jeremy Jones, Oct 27, 1994: Film Scheduled, Dropped by Adelaide Television

 How Jews tried to ban Irving speech video: An inside glimpse