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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Oxford debate delayed by protest | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A debate at the Oxford Union was delayed after protesters forced their way into the building. | |
| BNP leader Nick Griffin and controversial historian David Irving were due to speak about free speech. | BNP leader Nick Griffin and controversial historian David Irving were due to speak about free speech. |
| Thirty protesters pushed their way into the hall to stage a sit-down protest at the debating table. | Thirty protesters pushed their way into the hall to stage a sit-down protest at the debating table. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Anti-racism campaigners said the two men should not be given a platform to speak at the debate in St Michael's Street, Oxford. | Anti-racism campaigners said 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 | Nick Griffin and David Irving are due to speak at the Oxford Union |
| Protesters chanted anti-fascist slogans and jeered "shame on you". | 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. | 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 jumping over the wall while others created a diversion by gathering and crushing at the front gate. | Union security officers said the protesters got into the building by jumping over the wall while others created a diversion by gathering and crushing at the front gate. |
| 'Deeply dangerous' | '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." | "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. | 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 convictions | Denial 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 about four hours before the 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. |