Protests held as 'fascists' speak at Oxford

Hundreds of anti- racism campaigners gathered outsdie to oppse the event

Image: Aidan Simpson

Print article
Post to Facebook

Protests were held on Monday 26 November at the Oxford Union's freedom of speech forum in opposition to the decision to let Nick Griffin and David Irving speak at the event. Around 1,000 anti-racism campaigners gathered outside the union’s St Michael Street entrance, whilst 30 protestors gained access to the chamber and delayed the start of the event by over an hour.

The Journal reported on 5 November that a campaign was to be launched in opposition to the decision of the union to invite the pair. However, members of the universities debating society voted by a margin of 2-1 to uphold the invitation.

Aidan Simpson, who attended the protest told The Journal: “The mood of the protests was angry and passionate, but peaceful. Most protestors did not want the debate to go ahead.

“The BNP are desperate to look like a legitimate political party and the fact that they were speaking at the Oxford Union might hold some sway amongst the aspiring middle classes that they are currently targeting.

“It was predicted that the BNP and Irving would use the event to gain a lot of publicity in the national media, and this proved to be correct.”

The event was split into two separate rooms for security purposes. Mr Irving shared a room with local MP Dr Evan Harris and journalist Anne Atkins, whilst Mr Griffin debated Mr Dray and another Oxford postgraduate student.

Mr Griffin, chairman of the far-right British National Party was found not guilty of incitement to commit racial hatred in 2004 after a BBC documentary showed him describing Islam as a "wicked and vicious faith". Mr Irving was jailed for 13 months in 2006 in Austria for glorifying and associating with the Nazi party.

However, protestors have been criticised for using intimidating tactics to stop ticket holders gaining access to the event. One of the speakers at the event, postgraduate student James Dray said: “The action of protestors against ordinary students was disgusting.”

He added: “I know that most of the people who attended were not part of these activities, but the fact that they happened is a sad indictment on the organisers of the protest.”

Mr Simpson defended the protestors, saying: “There was plenty of warning that protestors were going to be rallying on St Michaels’ street, yet the Union chose to make this the only entrance open to ticket holders.

“It would be wrong to label the protest as a ‘riot’ when the vast majority had no intention of resorting to violence.”

Earlier in the week, shadow defence minister and Conservative Party MP Julian Lewis had resigned his life membership to the Union in objection to the decision to proceed with the event. Dr Lewis said he was "ashamed" that the union giving the two men—who he described as "a couple of scoundrels"—a platform. Other events due to feature speakers including Defence Secretary Des Browne and television presenter June Sarpong have been cancelled after they withdrew in protest at the invitation.

However, the union’s president, Luke Tryl defended the decision to go ahead with the event. He told the BBC: “The way to defeat fascism is through debate and that is how we are going to defeat them.”

He added: “David Irving came across looking pathetic. He looked weak. The flaws in his argument about free speech were exposed and I’m pleased that that happened.”

A statement from the BNP claimed that universities too often reversed decisions to let the party speak, adding: “Oxford University have broken the mould and the door is now open for other universities to follow Oxford’s lead.”

Comment on this article

	You need to have an account to post comments.
	Enter your login details below to post, or sign up for an account
User name:
Password:
Comment: