Massey University students have rallied at the Palmerston North campus, slamming the Vice Chancellor's decision to cancel a speech by former National Party leader as wrong, unjustified and dangerous.
Jan Thomas yesterday pulled the plug on Mr Brash's planned speaking event at the university citing security concerns after a reported gun threat.
Mr Brash says he believes Ms Thomas cancelled his speech based on his views on race and political representation, and says she is stifling free speech.
A group of students, waving pro-free speech placards, gathered today to support Mr Brash's right to speak on campus.
Placards bore slogans such as "Don't hate speech, debate speech". One of the students was seen draped in a New Zealand flag.
Spokesperson for the group, Michael Curtis, says the student-organised protest was to support free speech.
"All of us feel Don Brash was unjustly removed from campus. This is wrong, I mean he should have a right to speak here," Mr Curtis told 1 NEWS.
"He's a former Reserve Bank leader, and leader of the National Party. Just because people don't like what he has to say, or some things he has said in the past, doesn't really justify turning him off campus."
Mr Curtis said while the Vice Chancellor has the authority to make the decision on Mr Brash's attendance, he disagrees with it.
"I do disagree with the decision. I think it's wrong, I think it's quite unjustified."
Mr Brash was due to speak at the university, but had his speech cancelled by Jan Thomas. (Source: Other)
Another student, William, said cancelling Mr Brash's visit is "a bit ridiculous".
"I mean I think everyone has the right to speak. I mean if you don't like what they're saying then that's fair enough, but at the end of the day it's their right to say it," he said.
"I'd be really looking forward to actually hearing things that Don Brash has to say, just 'cause he's lived quite an eventful life. So it'd be quite nice to hear. And it's a bit of a shame that it's kind of been cancelled just because it doesn't fit a certain ideology.
"Yeah, I think it's quite dangerous to do that."
Vice Chancellor Jan Thomas has today declined to speak to media, after doing so yesterday.
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