To silence racism or let it speak 1

Frank Ellis's opinions clearly contravene the terms of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act since they do not promote good race relations or equality of opportunity ("Ellis case first test of race Act", March 24). On this basis, Leeds University has no option but to remove him from his teaching duties.

Those who argue that we should defend freedom of speech or academic freedom should realise that they are not unqualified freedoms.

These kinds of views have led in the past to genocide and ethnic cleansing and, in any case, academic freedom does not, I hope, encourage the dissemination of views for which there is no scientific evidence.

The weight of all serious academic research makes it quite clear that the low educational attainment of much of Britain's minority population is due to structural racism within the education system, from primary school to university.

Gary Craig

Professor of social justice Hull University