Oxford: Student Protests

by Simply Simon Williams | November 26, 2007 at 05:46 pm
389 views | 16 Recommendations | 5 comments

BY SIMON WILLIAMS PICTURES BY SIMON WILLIAMS Hundreds of protesters surrounded Oxford University's Union to voice their disapproval of two extreme right speakers presence at a debate.


More than 250 Jewish students from across the United Kingdom joined fellow protesters from Birmingham, Bristol, London and other universities.


The Union had invited BNP (British National Party) leader Nick Griffin; whose party wants to see mass deportation of citizens who are not regarded as British by the party. Griffin was to share his platform with historian, David Irving who believes that Hitler did not push the order for the mass genocide of some six million Jews along with gays, gypsies under the ruling Nazi party.


Protesters chanted "Shame on you" as the union building welcomed its guests as the evening went on the road outside the union filled up with protesters from across the country.


Many students joined the protest from across the country. "If you really believe in something you should stand up for it" said Joanne Grainger of The University of Birmingham. T


he President of the Oxford Union, Luke Tryl whose university faced a lock in to enable the event to go ahead said, "David Irving and Nick Griffin have awful and abhorrent views" but suggested the only way forward was through debate.


"Students who attended the protest showed the likes of Irving and Griffin that people do not want to hear these racists views" said Alex Totten, Anti-Racist and Fascist Officer at The University of Birmingham.


"It was amazing to see Jews from across the country together with other faiths standing up against fascism and Holocaust denial" said Yoni Amias, Jewish Society Chair. The University of Birmingham.


The protesters managed to delay the debate and made their presence known.

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Brian A Kennedy
Brian A Kennedy
flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 05:13 on November 27th, 2007

Simply Simon Williams, great first-hand coverage and great photos -- thanks for this.

Rob Peters
Rob Peters
flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 08:26 on November 27th, 2007

Thanks for the coverage.  Great copy and complementary photos.

ryan
ryan
flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 08:50 on November 27th, 2007

Simply Simon Williams, well reported, thanks for posting.

BigT
BigT
flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 09:12 on November 27th, 2007

Simply Simon Williams, good reporting, good job.

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pwalmsley

Great story, Simon! This is what NowPublic is all about. :D

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