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Protesters force way into debate Protesters force way into debate
(40 minutes later)
Protesters have forced their way into the Oxford Union where BNP leader Nick Griffin and controversial historian David Irving are due to speak.Protesters have forced their way into the Oxford Union where BNP leader Nick Griffin and controversial historian David Irving are due to speak.
The group of 30 pushed their way into the hall where they are staging a sit-down protest at the debating table.The group of 30 pushed their way into the hall where they are staging a sit-down protest at the debating table.
Earlier, a crowd staged a sit-down protest outside the gates of the building, preventing around half the students due to attend from getting in. Earlier, 500 people staged a sit-down protest outside the gates of the building, preventing around half the students due to attend from getting in.
About 500 people chanted anti-fascist slogans and jeered "shame on you". The debate has yet to start and it is not clear whether it will start at all.
Anti-racism campaigners say the two men should not be given a platform to speak at the debate in St Michael's Street, Oxford. Nick Griffin and David Irving are due to speak at the Oxford Union Anti-racism campaigners say the two men should not be given a platform to speak at the debate in St Michael's Street, Oxford.
Police on horseback are patrolling the area. Nick Griffin and David Irving are due to speak at the Oxford Union
Protesters chanted anti-fascist slogans and jeered "shame on you".
The students broke through a security cordon into the building where the debate, scheduled to start at 2030 GMT was delayed.
Union security officers said the protesters got into the building by jumpingover the wall while others created a diversion by gathering and crushing at thefront gate.
Police officers escorted a few protesters away but the hardcore of 20 inside the debating hall remained.
'Deeply dangerous'
Martin Mcluskey, from the Oxford University Students' Union, said: "What we are doing here tonight at the Oxford Union is putting them on a platform that will give them legitimacy and credibility."Martin Mcluskey, from the Oxford University Students' Union, said: "What we are doing here tonight at the Oxford Union is putting them on a platform that will give them legitimacy and credibility."
"It is as if we are saying that we agree with what they are saying and that we think it is valid." Novelist Anne Atkins, who is participating in the debate, said controversial views should not be silenced but exposed. "It is as if we are saying that we agree with what they are saying and that we think it is valid."
Novelist Anne Atkins, who is participating in the debate, said controversial views should not be silenced but exposed.
"When you say that the majority view is always right I think that is a deeply dangerous and disturbing thing to say."When you say that the majority view is always right I think that is a deeply dangerous and disturbing thing to say.
Denial convictionsDenial convictions
"I am not for a moment saying that I agree with David Irving or Nick Griffin but I am saying that once you start having truth by democracy you risk silencing some of the most important prophets we have ever had.""I am not for a moment saying that I agree with David Irving or Nick Griffin but I am saying that once you start having truth by democracy you risk silencing some of the most important prophets we have ever had."
Mr Griffin and Mr Irving arrived hours before the 2000 GMT start of the debate and were escorted into the building. Mr Griffin and Mr Irving arrived about four hours before the start of the debate and were escorted into the building.
MP Dr Julian Lewis has also resigned his membership of the Oxford debating union in protest describing the two men as "a couple of scoundrels" in his resignation letter.MP Dr Julian Lewis has also resigned his membership of the Oxford debating union in protest describing the two men as "a couple of scoundrels" in his resignation letter.
Mr Griffin has repeatedly insisted the BNP is not a racist group.Mr Griffin has repeatedly insisted the BNP is not a racist group.
He was convicted in 1998 for incitement to racial hatred for material denying the Holocaust.He was convicted in 1998 for incitement to racial hatred for material denying the Holocaust.
Mr Irving was imprisoned for three years after pleading guilty to Holocaust denial in Austria.Mr Irving was imprisoned for three years after pleading guilty to Holocaust denial in Austria.