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Oxford students sit-in protest fails to silence Holocaust-denier David Irving and BNP leader Nick Griffin
Last updated at 14:05pm on 29.11.07As student protests go it was a rather tame affair.
At stake were two issues that had ignited the passions of some of our brightest undergraduates - the right to free speech versus the right to demonstrate.
But when the two camps clashed in the shadow of Oxford university's most hallowed halls last night, neither emerged as a clear winner.
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BNP leader Nick Griffin arrives at Oxford University, despite the uproar
BNP leader Nick Griffin and controversial historian David Irving were each allowed a voice during a much-heralded debate at the Oxford Union - and anti fascist campaigners successfully disrupted the proceedings by crashing into the meeting hall and staging a sit-in.
The breach delayed the speeches and split the meeting into two. But the speakers were each allowed to address separate audiences after the hall was cleared by police.
Perhaps the only losers were the police and security staff who were supposed to have thrown a so-called ring of steel around the event - and who somehow allowed more than 30 demonstrators to infiltrate a meeting which, at one stage, was being billed as a potential riot.
More than 300 protestors had gathered at the gates of the Union from early evening, night, chanting slogans waving banners.
But this was hardly the stuff of Sixties protest, and certainly not on a par with Paris student riots of yesteryear.
True, they played Woody Guthrie protest songs through loudspeakers outside, and called participants 'fascist scum' as they went into the building.
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A man opposing anti-fascist protestors expresses his opinion outside the Oxford Union Debating Society and is then led away by police, below
But the nearest the great young minds of Oxford came to a riot last night as the two men prepared to address the Union was to bang a few drums and invent rather lacklustre chant including: "Oxford Union, hear us say: Griffin, Irving, go away."
There was shouting and booing, of course, but nothing like Griffin and Irving are probably used to on occasions such as this.. And there were banners - lots of them - all urging people to kick out fascism or "go home".
One police officer joked that it was the politest protest he had ever been to. Griffin and Irving, it transpired, had been escorted in several hours earlier and were already inside when the first protestors came on to the scene.
Irving had arrived with a ball and chain as a prop for his "free speech" address. Biggest excitement outside, meanwhile, was a confrontation with a drunk, who stripped to the waist to reveal a cross of St George tattoo on his back and shouted abuse.
Then mounted police dispersed a group of rowdy youths shouting anti-fascist slogans as they marched through nearby streets.
It was while the commotion was going on that the 30 breached security. Some chained themselves to chairs in the hall.
Others simply sat down and sang. The disruption took more than an hour to clear, and meant that the two speakers - branded "brothers in bigotry" by one banner - delivered their addresses to audiences in separate rooms.
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Respect MP George Galloway joined the protesters outside the university
Rob Owen of the NUS National Executive was among the protestors who got in.
He said: "It was a spontaneous thing which just kind of happened.
"There were people sitting on top of the railings next to the gate and right up against the gate when for some reason it opened for about half a minute and around 30 people managed to force their way through.
"The security guards tried to grab us but there were too many and we managed to get into the debating chamber.
"Once we actually got inside there the union president was outraged but a significant portion of other people actually came up to us and said they respected what we were doing and were opposed to the BNP as well."
Reader views (35)
Had the party not been BNP, and the name not been Griffin, much of what he said last night on Q/T regarding capping immigration into the UK would have been acceptable to many rational people, as would immigrants coming here should respect our christian faith and laws in this country as we would do in theirs.
But it was an invited and vetted BBC audience which fell short of a baying lynch mob and both Jack Straw and Warsi tried in every way to ingratiate themselves in a thick maple syrup coating of mock horror to the viewers.
Once we had free speech and speakers corner...now it seems speech is only free as long as you agree with the viewpoints of everyone else.
No discussion...NO debate.
Shame on the BBC.
- J Lewington, Bath
How come these protestors are advocating freedom of speech and anti facism, but are trying to stop someone speaking?. Isn't trying to take Nick Griffins' right to freedom of speech a most grotesque form of facism? Or do we live by the student code that we can say anything we want as long as the Oxford student union agree with it.
How dare they.
- John, Newcastle
The left have always recognised that the sinister nature of their ideology is easily revealed when even lightly scrutinised. We should not be surprised when they resort to basic thuggery when intellectually under threat, it's what they've always done.
- Jules, Dudley
So mortgage-laden students have become enforcers of political correctitude. Surprise, surprise!
- Jack, London UK
Where were these people when Abu 'Captain Hook' Hamza was ranting about destroying Britain?
- Grim Reaper, London
The protesters who wished to decide who should and who should not be allowed to speak are themselves the real fascists.
- Patrick Griffin, Dalston
Arn't people who set out to deny others their right to free assembly and free speech fascists? Strange how these "anti-fascists" don't consider themselves to be fascist is it not? I would suggest that the Labour sponsored "Unite Against Fascism" outfit should rename itself to something more appropriate. I know, how about "United For Fascism"? And bearing in mind the nature of the demo and the anti-democratic mob supporting it - is it any surprise to see lack-of-Respect and extreme-leftist George Galloway present?
- Joe Wilders, Oxford, Oxon
How ironic that a group of so-called Anti-Fascists try to stifle free speech.
- Philip, London, England
George Galloway outside with the protesters! That says it all. What a rabble.
- John Fitzgerald, Bristol, England
Who are the extremists here? The Left-wing Fascists who shout down anyone they disagree with? The Labour government who send our brave troops to fight in an illegal war for fantasy 'weapons of mass destruction'? The same government who sign away our sovereignty to unelected European bureaucrats and then deny us a referendum on it! The same governement who open our borders to all, and then build all over our countryside to house them? The BNP look more moderate by comparison every day.
- Paul Williams, Egham, UK
It is an absolute outrage that these men should ever be silenced from expressing their views and opinions. It would be like banning a prosecution from showing evidence in a robbery case just because it may contridict the defense. Nobody under any circumstance should be denied the right to free speach. We apparently live in a "free" nation. Not north korea.
- Sam Hatton, Oxford, United Kingdom
Isnt this sad - all this demonstrating to stop freedom of speech. I am a left wing black female and I would support anyone's right to express themselves as long as they are not inciting people to harm others. we cannot be a democracy if we do not allow people to express their views because we might not like what they think. Lets bring their views into the light so we can debate them and show them for what they are. I believe this is one of the reasons for the rise of the right wing parties in Europe.
- Irene, London
Freedom of speech is central part of our democracy. We are allowing ethnic groups to spread their vile and vitriolic messages to aspiring suicide martyrs.
The least we can do is allow another point of view to be aired, which should be a very interesting debate.
- Eric, Herts
I believe that a civilized society is disgraced by hatred or prejudice of any flavour. I know little about David Irving and nothing about Nick Griffin, and suspect that I would find their views highly distasteful. Nevertheless, I think it would reflect very poorly on the Oxford students in particular, and British society in general, if they could not be considered intelligent enough to see through hollow arguments and to reject uncivilized values. When I was growing up, in the England of the fifties and sixties, I was subjected to a constant barrage of anti-German propaganda from the mass media and other sources. After university, I moved to Germany to see things for myself, and was very relieved to discover that the man with the moustache was no longer in power. I was particularly surprised at the high degree of respect shown to Britain both by German newspapers and German individuals. Whether the torrent of anti-German propaganda is still flowing in Britain, I don't know, because I haven't lived there for over thirty years, but those who oppose freedom of speech should be consistent and apply their values to the mass media as well as to speakers outside the mainstream of current public opinion.
- Eric Weinberger, Milwaukee, USA
Oh the irony of it all.
Silly little middle class no nothings who grow up in Guildford or in a gated community in Putney and think they have the authority on talking about the effects of mass immigration into this country when they have no experience of living in such a society.
It'd be like a group of council estate kids out of Bermondsey lecturing the countryside alliance about fox hunting.
- L B, London
Censorship is one of the most fundamental enemies of democracy. The easiest way to send a resounding message of disapproval to this motley duo would be for nobody to turn up to listen to them.
If Irving and Griffin are not allowed to speak, who will be barred next? It is symptomatic of the liberal-left that they are very keen on free speech for only so long as the messenger is delivering their message.
Would there have been the same protest if it were two Islamic fundamentalist Imams that had been invited to speak, I doubt it, certainly not from Trevor Phillips, anyway.
The Italian President, Giorgio Napolitano recently said, “those who are anti-EU are terrorists, it is psychological terrorism to suggest the spectre of a European superstate." Silencing the likes of Irving and Griffin is the thin end of the wedge and would serve to embolden those who desire the silencing of critics of this undemocratic socialist behemoth.
Let them speak; nobody is forcing you to listen.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
Whether you agree with Griffin and Irving or not, they are entitled to their views. And as for Peter Hain MP, he is more dangerous than these guys.
- P.Robinson, Northants
This is a simple case of "I totally disagree with what you say but I will fight for your right to say it".
- Martin Fielding, London, England
‘Oxford Union Debating Society said it was important to give people of all views a platform'
The Holocaust is a fact, not a view, to suggest otherwise is damning to the memory of millions of innocent people. Surely our top university can think of other ways to incite debate other than feel the need to invite racist, delusional, twisted old men to give their 'view' on the world, past and present?
- Nicole Smith, Isle of Man
How dare Trevor Philips say what people fought and died for in this country. When the British servicemen fought in the First and Second world wars, most of them did not go to fight against facism or to protect the freedom of speech, they were either made to go or promised better working and living conditions afterwards. If they had known how Britain was going end up, giving the country away to Europe and being swamped by immigrants, they would never have fought, and may even have sent Hitler a first class ticket over here.
- David Kitemaker-Hall, London, UK
Trevor Phillips earns over £ 85,000 pa of taxpayers money as the 4-day-a week head of the Human Rights and Equalities commission. He has not been elected by anyone and has the audacity to tell the Oxford Union who it should and who it should not invite to their debating chamber. Surely Griffin and Irving have human rights too whatever their political views, so Mr Phillips give the taxpayer value for money and stick up for democracy and freedom of speech.
- Chris Roberts, Grays Essex
The debating Union is absolutely correct to invite these people to speak. If a subject is to be fully debated all sides of the argument must be presented equally otherwise there is nothing to learn. Whether one agrees with the BNP or any other extreme political view is irrelevant, we can only learn a better way from things we find wrong if we listen and keep our minds open. Let them speak.
- Steph, Ilford
Free speech? I do remember Abu Hamza speaking against this country and he had the police to protect him. From who ?
- Grim Reaper, London
I do not want the likes of Des Browne, Denis McShane or Trevor Phillips telling me what I should think and who I should listen to? These are only gutless unprincipled politicians who blow with the wind. I will make up my own mind and if I want to hear David Irving's views on the holocaust or Griffin's platform on immigration, I should be able to without fear.
I applaud the students and Luke Tryl for their stand on this issue. They should be encouraged not demonized.
- Lynda, London
Are people really campaigning to lose the freedom of speech that is implicit in a debate.
You need two points of view for a debate, and however distasteful one of those points of view is, the process to debate its merits must be allowed.
- Graham, Reading, England
We cannot ban them from speaking. I am pretty sure that the panel and the members of the Oxford Union can handle them effectively and show that there views are not correct and not acceptable!
- Stuart, London, UK
Fair enough - give these people a platform - they pose no credible threat to the stability of anything. To coin a phrase "If they had half a brain they would be dangerous" but fortunately they don't seem to possess even that much.
- JK, London, UK
I looked at Irving's website. What are all these people who "despise" him going on about? He writes history. It happened. It's the past, like it or not. Look for yourselves.
- Henry Barth, Dublin, Ireland
I have long been an admirer of David Irving. I think he is a brilliant writer and one of the world's foremost historians. His presence at the Oxford Union can only enhance its reputation as the world's finest and most famous debating society. To deny such a prominent historical authority a venue is an outrage. I hope that Luke Tryl and the Oxford Union will not give in to the thugs who are threatening protests and violence. Mr. Irving has many admirers in America and across the world. Please don't let us down.
- Marisa, San Diego, USA
Here we go again - the oxygen of publicity being afforded to a couple of fascists. OUDS should be ashamed for providing the platform by which such ill informed hatred can be spread - and this promoted by people considered to be the 'cream' of British society.
- Nigel, St Albans
If 'Nu Multi-Everything Labour' allows Muslim hate preachers to spout their bile, then these two have every right to air their views.
- Frank, Home Counties, England
The BNP, under the guise of freedom of speech, peddles nothing but bigotry and hatred. It is an abuse of the right of free-speech to give this odious organisation any publicity at all, and it certainly should not be allowed a respectable platform in order to peddle its poison.
- Neil, Gloucestershire, England.
Would Oxford give the same platform to Bin Laden or Abu Hamza? Is free speech just another word for for "white"wash?
- Harry Po, London, UK
If you want a true Democracy you should be open to discussions even if the subject sounds an absurd! So let them talk and make your decisions after.
- Tino Costa, Camberwell London
I found myself agreeing generally with the report until I got to the part which gave Trevor Phillips opinions and that changed my thinking by 180%. It made me think that BNP factions have never blown anybody up, threatened to blow up aircraft, didn't have hate preachers promoting death of non whites etc.
- Frank, England
