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Anti-fascists threat to target Oxford Union
1:06pm Saturday 24th November 2007
Comments (359) Have your say »
MORE than 1,000 people are expected to descend on Oxford Union's Free Speech Forum on Monday, following its decision to invite a Holocaust denier and the BNP leader.
Weyman Bennett, national secretary of pressure group Unite Against Fascism has compared the decision to ask historian David Irving and British National Party leader Nick Griffin to speak at the forum as akin to "giving Hitler a platform".
He claimed the amount of people attending the demonstration would eclipse the 1,062 who voted to support invitations to the two controversial figures last night.
The ballot saw another 640 union members vote against the motion to invite the two.
Mr Bennett said: "The vote is a disaster for democracy. Would you give Hitler a platform?
"It is irresponsible and dangerous. We are planning to have a big protest. There will be more people outside the Oxford Union than inside, and there will be more people outside the union than voted for this debate to go ahead."
Martin McCluskey, President of Oxford University Student Union, said he would be among the protesters outside the forum, which takes place in Frewin Court, St Michael's Street from 8.30pm.
He said: "I am disappointed that the vote went that way.
"It is only a matter of time before Nick Griffin starts saying 'the students of Oxford University listened to me, you should do to.' "They are going to use it to propagate their views elsewhere."
More than 100 people attended an anti-fascist protest at Oxford's Town Hall in the week ahead of the vote, and other high profile figures due to attend debates at the union have pulled out of their engagements in protest.
These include television presenter June Sarpong, Defence Secretary Des Browne, and Labour MP Austin Mitchell.
Mr Irving, who was jailed in Austria for denying the Nazi execution of millions of Jews, said: "I am six feet two inches - I have not been intimidated before and I do not think I will be intimidated this time.
"I am very pleased I will have the opportunity to speak at the Oxford Union. I was convinced that the enemies of free speech would prevent me speaking."
He added he had been stopped from speaking at the Oxford Union in the past because Thames Valley Police had raised public order concerns.
Your Say YourOxford
UNION JACK, GREAT BRITAIN says...
1:21pm Sat 24 Nov 07
VOTE BNP and win the war on terror
free speech, democracy says...
1:25pm Sat 24 Nov 07
if the lefties dont agree with it - then your not allowed free speech -
you cant beat hypocrites
You're 100% right Union Jack!, Oxford says...
1:25pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Common-Sense, Oxford says...
1:30pm Sat 24 Nov 07
James, London says...
1:40pm Sat 24 Nov 07
The irony of this idiotic statement speaks for itself.
Right is Right, Oxford says...
1:44pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Man on the Street, Oxford says...
1:50pm Sat 24 Nov 07
gners target Monday's meeting, they should be arrested for treason to their country in my opinion.
David Smith, Headington says...
1:54pm Sat 24 Nov 07
"We want Great Britain. We want to see British people, not a mix of different cultures. If it was like that in every country, a mixture, there would be no passion like at England games collectively in the community and no individuality. May the BNP rise.
Liberal and proud, Oxford says...
2:29pm Sat 24 Nov 07
End Weak Liberalism, Oxford says...
2:33pm Sat 24 Nov 07
James, London says...
3:11pm Sat 24 Nov 07
If there's no 'balance' then that's the fault of the incompetent opposition, not Irving or Griffin. And so what if it's seen as a platform for the BNP? If you want safe, bland viewpoints then leave university and join a cult.
"As an Oxford student I am ashamed that so many are unaware that freedom of speech must go hand in hand with balance and responsibility."
Utter rubbish. If I say something I don't have to provide 'balance' alongside it. And who decides what 'responsible' is? You? Me? In other words, you don't really believe in freedom of speech at all, except for views that are 'balanced' and 'moderate', just like yours. Yeah, right...
And why do lefties always boast of feeling 'ashamed' of things they personally had nothing to do with? Is it the feeling of self-importance that it brings? Perhaps this hand-wringing liberal should pay compensation to the 'offended' minority if he feels so responsble for their suffering.
caz, louth says...
3:39pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Mike, Oxford says...
3:40pm Sat 24 Nov 07
John, Summertown says...
4:17pm Sat 24 Nov 07
anon, Oxford says...
4:18pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Any "rightie" would see me or any one of my family as "English, but only because we are white and speak without an accent.
In any case, who cares? Many of my friends are from different nationalities and ethnic groups, and it is refreshing.
Should Irving and Griffin speak? Yes. At the Oxford Union? No. I have no problem with free speech, BUT we should not be giving nasty, racist and fascist views the appearance of being mainstream.
I have no problem with some kind of fringe meeting in Hyde Park, or anywhere else. But letting these people into the heart of the establishment is giving the message that these views are respectable and valid, which they are patently not.
Thinker, Risinghurst says...
4:30pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Spartacus, Cowley says...
4:37pm Sat 24 Nov 07
If these foreigners don't like the way we Brits. operate within OUR democratic society then they should do us all a favour and sod off back to whatever part of the world they may have originated from!
Spartacus supporter, Headington says...
4:45pm Sat 24 Nov 07
joe, says...
4:53pm Sat 24 Nov 07
http://www.answers.c
om/topic/weyman-benn
ett?cat=technology
Why does the Mail give him a platform? or even refer to him as extreme left?
david, OXFORD says...
4:55pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Labour Hater, Headington says...
5:00pm Sat 24 Nov 07
robert, scotland says...
5:04pm Sat 24 Nov 07
They say that nobody will vote for the BNP.
If this is the case why not just ignore the fact when a BNP member is standing for election? Or is it the case that mainstream politicians have lost their way in this politically-correct society?
They need to stick their heads above the parapet and look at whats happening in this country with regards to immigration-related problems.
Rightie, Barnet says...
5:12pm Sat 24 Nov 07
British, Oxford says...
5:51pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Have you stopped to think what makes us alike? Probably not. Britain has had a culture of openness for a long time.
Why don't YOU "go back where you came from"? 1930's Germany - you'd like it there.
Britishness, Oxford says...
5:56pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Chris Brand, Edinburgh says...
6:54pm Sat 24 Nov 07
-Party that he has got his eye on leadership -- hopefully taking the party towards the national liberalism of Palmerston and Lloyd George, including free speech for Englishmen.
As to the 'limits of free speech' issue itself, let us hope to see despatched the left's tired argument that free speech should be 'sensitive.' A right to inoffensive speech is not worth having -- for no-one minds speech with which they agree. The former Lord Chancellor, Lord Hailsham, wrote in 'The Dilemma Of Democracy': There is no way of having a free society in which there is not abuse. Abuse is the very hallmark of liberty. And let us hope too for some recognition that (as my 1996/7 case in Edinburgh University showed) current British law provides NO special protection of academic freedom: as E.U. itself amazingly but successfully argued before a High Court judge, a British university has currently no more obligation to continue a controversial outspeaker in employment than does a biscuit factory.
Mr Ison, England says...
7:32pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Nick von Stranz, Tuhalaane, Estonia says...
7:51pm Sat 24 Nov 07
kernel of public debate. Because both
speakers are seen as not adhering to an indoctrinated majority view on key issues,I am delighted that the invitations stand. At least for those who will listen there is a chance that some fixed opinions about the world we live may be refined if not revised.
Britishness, Oxford says...
8:01pm Sat 24 Nov 07
surfer, Devon says...
8:02pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Green Arrow, South Wales says...
8:03pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Just do a search on Youtube or visit the BNPTv page here:
www.bnptv.org.uk
Then come back and post your comments
R Stewart, UK says...
8:19pm Sat 24 Nov 07
"The vote is a disaster for democracy" says Weyman Bennett, national secretary of pressure group Unite Against Fascism. But one has to wonder whose democracy Bennet refers to because he is actually engaged in the suppression of free speech.
Let Griffin and Irving have their say and allow the public to judge for themselves, for better or worse. After all that is the essence of democracy and free speech.
Oxford Crusader, Oxford says...
8:34pm Sat 24 Nov 07
The far left UAF will claim a victory of sorts. It will be a pyrrhic victory because they will have exposed themselves, in the eyes of most people, as the undemocratic, anti-British red hooligans they really are, which will lead to further loss of membership.
If the debate remains scheduled, their only real hope of preventing it would be if enough Labour MPs, councillors, TU leaders and their cohorts demonstrate with sufficient force to prevent it taking place. But being very chary most of them will say, why keep dogs and bark for them?
Debate, or no debate, this must be, in terms of media exposure, a total win-win situation for the BNP.
Lib-Errol, Oxford says...
8:36pm Sat 24 Nov 07
surfer wrote:Does BMP stand for Bloody Morons Party?
VOTE BMP you know it makes sence.
chuckitsmithers, Oxford says...
8:44pm Sat 24 Nov 07
And why do lefties always boast of feeling 'ashamed' of things they personally had nothing to do with?
Good question, since it seems to imply a collective guilt which can only arise from some bond or other which does not arise from opinions or beliefs. The only such bond that really fits the bill is blood ties.
In their own terms leftists are 'racists'-just like everyone else.
Dave, Cardiff says...
8:49pm Sat 24 Nov 07
james, london says...
8:49pm Sat 24 Nov 07
"UN Declaration of Indigenous Rights of Indigenous Peoples
As adopted by the General Assembly on 13th September 2007.
Includes :
Article 7.2 "Indigenous peoples have the collective right to live in freedom, peace and security as distinct peoples"
Article 8.1 "Indigenous peoples and individuals have the right not to be subjected to forced assimilation or destruction of their culture."
Article 8.2 "States shall provide effective mechanisms for prevention of, and redress for:
(a) Any action which has the aim or effect of depriving them of their integrity as distinct peoples, or of their cultural values or ethnic identities;
(b) Any action which has the aim or effect of dispossessing them of their lands, territories or resources;
(d) Any form of forced assimilation or integration;
Gerry Gabletwit, Witney says...
8:50pm Sat 24 Nov 07
The miniscule Socialist Workers Party front group UAF (Unite Againt Freedom) should all be warned by the police that their threats against a legal, peacefull meeting will not be tolerated. If these Trotskyists do not like the concept of free speech then I suggest they pack their backs and move to North Korea or Cuba
Lib-Errol, Oxford says...
8:51pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Mr A- A paedofile who can trace his British Herritage back 100's of years.
OR
Mr B- An immigrant who is polite, law abiding and hard working.
Britishness, Oxford says...
8:53pm Sat 24 Nov 07
White Aryan Avenger Lite, Billericay says...
8:55pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Right is Bright, Oxford says...
8:57pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Lib-Errol, Oxford says...
9:03pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Britishness wrote:i do not dislike racist Brits because they are British, i dis like them because of their small minded and rediculous views
Lefties are racist towards British people. How's that for a comparison people?
Britishness, Oxford says...
9:04pm Sat 24 Nov 07
White Aryan Avenger Lite wrote:No the ignorant lefties apparently can't. They want a mix of about 200 different cultures in every country. This cannot be achieved and leads to disturbances (I wouldn't bet against one on Monday night), isolation and the breakdown of national pride for the country concerned. Keep Britain for British people that's whom it was intended for.
your all fools cant u see your own nation BRITIAN is being dessimated + brought 2 its knee by intolerrant PC marxits + UNCONTROLED COLORED IMIGRATOIN i say thank god 4 nick grifin brave wise man sage prophet seer lawgiver magus demigod avatar iluminatus new messiah mystic nexus of unniverse!!!!!!!!!!
Britishness, Oxford says...
9:05pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Lib-Errol wrote:This post shows your intelligence. "Rediculous" you wrote.
Britishness wrote: Lefties are racist towards British people. How's that for a comparison people?i do not dislike racist Brits because they are British, i dis like them because of their small minded and rediculous views
Lib-Errol, Oxford says...
9:08pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Right is Bright wrote:sorry for believing that british sex offenders are more of a threat in britain than hard working foreigners
Lib-Errol, your are anti-British. HOW DARE you put foreigners before our own people!
paul, essex says...
9:10pm Sat 24 Nov 07
institute for public policy research 2007
Somalia 81% (muslims)
Turkey 59% (muslims - EU membership endorsed by Labour)
Bangladesh 56% (muslims)
Pakistan 55% (muslims)
Iran 48% (muslims)
Cyprus 32% (EU)
Jamaica 31%
China 31%
Portugal 30% (EU)
India 29%
Poland 15% (EU)
Austrailia 11%
council/social housing taken by immigrants
Somalia 80%
Turkey 49%
Bangladesh 41%
Portugal 40%
Jamaica 35%
Iran 33%
Zimbabwe 20%
Cyprus 16%
Pakistan 15%
China 9%
Poland 8%
Australia 5%
Chris, says...
9:13pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Lib-Errol wrote:So you think all of the British race are Paedos?
Don't want to stray from the subject, but i wonder what the BNP would prefer,
Mr A- A paedofile who can trace his British Herritage back 100's of years.
OR
Mr B- An immigrant who is polite, law abiding and hard working.
This is nothing more than racial hatred.
Britishness, Oxford says...
9:13pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Lib-Errol wrote:Lib-Errol, look at these stats taken from the Sun, you ignorant, anti-British pillock.
Right is Bright wrote: Lib-Errol, your are anti-British. HOW DARE you put foreigners before our own people!sorry for believing that british sex offenders are more of a threat in britain than hard working foreigners
Liberal and proud, Oxford says...
9:15pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Long may all of you maintain the right to speak. And for you all to be given enough rope to show how laughable your comments are.
Britishness, Britain for Britons says...
9:15pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Britishness wrote:Intended for previous post:
Lib-Errol wrote:Lib-Errol, look at these stats taken from the Sun, you ignorant, anti-British pillock.Right is Bright wrote: Lib-Errol, your are anti-British. HOW DARE you put foreigners before our own people!sorry for believing that british sex offenders are more of a threat in britain than hard working foreigners
"ROMANIAN gangs commit 80 to 85 per cent of all cashpoint crime in Britain"
Lib-Errol, Oxford says...
9:18pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Lib-Errol, Oxford says...
9:20pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Liberal and proud wrote:HOO RAH some sense at last
I haven't a clue what gives me this impression... but I get the feeling that this comment back section is being used as a BNP PR stunt! This is now a forum for hatred. Stop citing rubbish about Britishness. Would that be Saxon, Norman, Celtic or Viking?! I'll keep all hardworking immigrants who work hard and make this country successful thank you very much. Our modern Britain is, and will remain a vibrant multi-cultural society. Long may it remain so. Long may all of you maintain the right to speak. And for you all to be given enough rope to show how laughable your comments are.
Britishness, Oxford says...
9:21pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Liberal and proud wrote:I think you suggested in a previous post that immigration is "refreshing". The only refreshment I get is seeing the BNP rising swiftly to victory. With any luck you soft, anti-British Liberal scum will sod off to Jamaica or somewhere and let us be British in our own country.
I haven't a clue what gives me this impression... but I get the feeling that this comment back section is being used as a BNP PR stunt! This is now a forum for hatred. Stop citing rubbish about Britishness. Would that be Saxon, Norman, Celtic or Viking?! I'll keep all hardworking immigrants who work hard and make this country successful thank you very much. Our modern Britain is, and will remain a vibrant multi-cultural society. Long may it remain so. Long may all of you maintain the right to speak. And for you all to be given enough rope to show how laughable your comments are.
Almighty God, in Heaven says...
9:21pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Britishness wrote:I wouldn't normally butt into a discussion of this kind, but I must make the point that our good friend "Britishness" is absolutely right. Britain was indeed intended for the British people - that was precisely the idea I had in my mind when I created it, squillions of years before the human race existed. So all you non-British chappies who seem to be hanging about can jolly well go home, because quite frankly you're mucking up the cosmic dance of joy (which I like to perform every evening with my best chum "Britishness" in the privacy of his hovel, and ever so cute he looks in his sequinned cocktail dress).
White Aryan Avenger Lite wrote: your all fools cant u see your own nation BRITIAN is being dessimated + brought 2 its knee by intolerrant PC marxits + UNCONTROLED COLORED IMIGRATOIN i say thank god 4 nick grifin brave wise man sage prophet seer lawgiver magus demigod avatar iluminatus new messiah mystic nexus of unniverse!!!!!!!!!!No the ignorant lefties apparently can't. They want a mix of about 200 different cultures in every country. This cannot be achieved and leads to disturbances (I wouldn't bet against one on Monday night), isolation and the breakdown of national pride for the country concerned. Keep Britain for British people that's whom it was intended for.
Britishness, Oxford says...
9:29pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Lib-Errol wrote:What about "British jobs for British people"?
Liberal and proud wrote: I haven't a clue what gives me this impression... but I get the feeling that this comment back section is being used as a BNP PR stunt! This is now a forum for hatred. Stop citing rubbish about Britishness. Would that be Saxon, Norman, Celtic or Viking?! I'll keep all hardworking immigrants who work hard and make this country successful thank you very much. Our modern Britain is, and will remain a vibrant multi-cultural society. Long may it remain so. Long may all of you maintain the right to speak. And for you all to be given enough rope to show how laughable your comments are.HOO RAH some sense at last
If you had founded a club or something and had long-standing members you wouldn't want a mass invasion of outsiders coming in and taking your roles, would you? Multiculturalism is very similar to this and has been fuelled by Labour brainwashing propaganda. It's depleting our identity as a nation. Do you remember the good old days of Christmas and other festivals when the whole country joined in the festivities? This united the nation and brought great pride. Everything shut down practically save for the emergency services and a few other token businesses. You don't get this level of pride with multiculturalism. It just doesn't mix.
Jim, camden says...
9:36pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Daily Express by Leo McKinstry
http://www.express.c
o.uk/ourcomments/vie
w/15991
some quotes from the article:
"Reverse discrimination is rife in the state machine"
"In the name of cultural diversity Labour attacks anything that smacks
of Englishness"
"The main stream public are treated with contempt, their rights ignored, their history trashed"
"It is a bitter irony that the Labour governemnt that works itself up into such a synthetic rage over racial prejudice should practice overt discrimination on an epic scale"
Britishness, Oxford says...
9:40pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Lib-Errol, Oxford says...
9:44pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Britishness wrote:do your beliefs not mean that all black english footballers should be banned?
Liberal and proud, what hope do we hold for our national football team in the future? Where are we going to get our players, or hadn't that crossed your unintelligent left mind?
Britishness, Oxford says...
9:46pm Sat 24 Nov 07
Lib-Errol wrote:There are blacks in the BNP.
Britishness wrote: Liberal and proud, what hope do we hold for our national football team in the future? Where are we going to get our players, or hadn't that crossed your unintelligent left mind?do your beliefs not mean that all black english footballers should be banned?
Save British Culture, Oxford says...
1:15pm Sat 24 Nov 07
As young people I am sure you have noticed a sharp rise in the number of foreigners in our country. This is bad news for us because it breaks up our communities. They often don't speak our language and it sounds awful. If immigration is not stopped within three decades we will be outnumbered 80 to 1 in our own country and will be an ETHNIC MINORITY here. Vote BNP as soon as you're old enough. They're the only party that put British people first.