In the November 1999 Zundel-Haus newsletter, Ernst wrote:
"My suitcases were not yet unpacked, and I was off soon after to distant shores, meeting with US attorneys for exploratory sessions on future initiatives and for looking after estate-related matters of a deceased comrade. Then it was back to Canada on an early flight to attend the ceremonies of Barbara Kulaszka being bestowed the George Orwell Award by the Canadian Free Speech League at a banquet in her honour.
"This was a 'Who's Who' gathering of Free Speech activists. Undoubtedly veteran journalist, Doug Collins, and Barbara Kulaszka were the stars of the show. I was deeply moved when my loyal attorney of so many years finally received the richly deserved and so painfully earned recognition.
"Everybody was so proud of her - what a courageous lady!"
That is an understatement! There is probably not a second person in Canada in the legal field who has worked to diligently, persistently and with such enormous skill and attention to important detail as attorney Barbara Kulaszka. I, too, was fortunate to see her being honored that evening. It was a lovely and harmonious dinner.
Keltie Zubko, who is the editor of "Friends of Freedom", a private newsletter for the supporters of the Canadian Free Speech League dealing in cases of the censorship and persecution of political, religious and historical opinion, wrote up the event, excerpted here:
The Canadian Free Speech League's 14th annual dinner and award presentation of the George Orwell Free Speech Award took place on November 6th in the Greater Victoria area. It was attended by a crowd of about 100.
The 1999 recipient of the award was lawyer Barbara Kulaszka who first became involved in the defence of freedom of speech in the 1988 (second) trial of Ernst Zundel on charges of publishing false news. This case, like the first conviction, went to the Ontario Court of Appeal, where the conviction was overturned and a new trial ordered. The crown's appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada was rejected. The second, 1988 trial resulted in a conviction once more, and when appealed to the Ontario Court of Appeal, it was upheld. However, when the case was appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada, the law itself was struck down as unconstitutional.
Ms. Kulaszka was co-counsel throughout the proceedings of the second trial, with Douglas Christie. In 1989 and 1990, she was counsel with Mr. Christie in the Finta case, which resulted first in an acquittal of Mr. Finta on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. This case was appealed to the Ontario Court of Appeal, and to the Supreme Court of Canada, and resulted in the war crimes legislation being restricted by the Supreme Court to the point where it has not been used since.
Other free speech related clients of Ms. Kulaszka have included Eileen Pressler and Paul Fromm.
In the presentation of the award to her, Doug Christie noted that she had bravely walked into the fight for freedom of speech in Canada, with her eyes open to the difficulties and dangers, having witnessed the attacks on those helping Ernst Zundel at his first trial, during which physical violence was a daily threat.
Since that time, she has persisted, employing her considerable skills of research and writing to the struggle for freedom of expression in Canada. With a finely honed intellectual curiosity and a real dedication to the ideal of freedom, Barbara Kulaszka has contributed a tremendous amount to the preservation of freedom in Canada, and has worked for years at it, quietly and precisely, and with frequent flashes of genius, often providing necessary ammunition for Doug Christie to use in courtroom argument to win points for their client.
The George Orwell event lasted for an afternoon and evening, and concluded in time for Vancouver area attendees to take the ferry home, consisted of a panel discussion about the state of freedom of speech at the end of the millennium and the prospects for the coming years.
Those who spoke on this subject included people who've been on the frontlines of the struggle in various forums and forms: Doug Collins, veteran journalist and human rights legislation victim, Paul Fromm, of the Canadian Association for Freedom of Expression and Citizens for Foreign Aid Reform, Bernard Klatt, an internet expert, Barbara Kulaszka, Francisco Moises, a Mozambiquan writer, anti-Communist and victim of media defamation, Eileen Pressler, another victim of media defamation, Ingrid Rimland, award-winning author and Zundelsite webmaster, Robert Ward, another victim of defamation by the establishment for his criticism of former Premier Glen Clark, and Ernst Zundel, historical revisionist and free speech advocate.
The view on the status of free speech ranged from rather negative to quite positive, the latter highlighting the influence of the Internet on the ability of individuals to communicate directly, without government or media control. There was great concern expressed for the growing violence of those who keep trying to stop meetings from being held to discuss free speech or other controversial topics.
A video tape of the September 30 meeting to support Doug Collins at the Vancouver Public Library, which was disrupted by a mob of left-wing "professional demonstrators," was shown. The panelists were available for questions from the audience.
Prior to the buffet dinner and presentation of the Orwell Award, Doug Christie, general counsel to the Canadian Free Speech League, gave a summary of the events of the past year, focusing on the number of meetings held, and the results of those meetings.
There has been a large growth in the number of supporters of the CFSL due to a large measure to the outrageous nature of the demonstrations and protests mounted against the CFSL's attempts to hold peaceful, public meetings. On behalf of the CFSL, Doug Christie expressed gratitude for the ongoing support of so many people throughout the world to the cause of freedom of speech.
The Canadian Free Speech League performs a number of important roles. First, education on the value of and threats to freedom of speech. The newsletter {Friends of Freedom} serves this function around the world. Then we raise funds to help victims of injustice and state-sanctioned oppression, where we can.
We also, through our general counsel, appear in court cases as counsel in defense of free speech. These activities have gone on now for 14 years. And our numbers are growing. This dinner was the largest since David Irving was arrested at our dinner in 1992. We have been tested by time and fire. The one annual banquet is especially poignant, as we meet many friends but once a year.
(From Friends of Freedom Newsletter, Box 101, 255 Menzies Street, Victoria, BC V8V 2G6, November 1999, email: kzubko@home.com)
The following quote was read at this event, which summarizes what is at stake in this struggle - and which shall be your Thought for the Day:
"Without Free Speech, no search for truth is possible - "Without Free Speech, no discovery of truth is useful - "Without Free Speech, progress is checked, and the nations no longer march forward, toward the nobler life, which the future holds for man -
"Better a thousandfold abuse of Free Speech, than denial of Free Speech. "The abuse dies in a day, but the denial slays the life of the people, and entombs the hope of the Race."
Ingrid