Picture: Tom Worman/UPSU

After news that controversial historian David Irving and BNP Leader Nick Griffin are due to speak at the University of Oxford's Student Union, Anti-fascist Protesters delay the start of the debate

Over 500 activists from across the country descended on the Oxford University Student's Union to protest against the Union's Debating Society decision to invite controversial speakers to their freedom of speech debate.

The event that took place last night (26/11/2007) involved a controversial plan which allowed historian David Irving, recently imprisoned for holocaust denial, and the leader of the British National Party leader Nick Griffin to speak. This raised objections from Anti-fascists around the country believing that extreme views do not have a place in British universities, particularly those that could be argued to incite racial hatred.

Anti-fascist protesters filled the streets surrounding the event, chanting and waving placards in opposition to the presence of the speakers. It is also reported that 30 protesters forced their way into the debating chamber, therefore delaying the start of the event.

Amongst the protesters on the street were members of UPSU's Sabbatical Team Ben Norman and Alex Harries.