THE OXFORD Union is again facing widespread criticism after inviting President Trump's former right hand man, Steve Bannon, to speak tomorrow.
Hundreds are expected to protest ahead of the afternoon event, which follows the cancellation of an appearance by a far-right German leader at the institution earlier this month.
The announcement was made just two days ahead of the appearance by Mr Bannon, who was the White House's chief strategist until last year and has links with far-right groups worldwide.
One member says he has resigned his membership in protest https://t.co/j5jGJU4Smp
— Harrison Jones (@OxMailHarrisonJ) November 14, 2018
A coalition of anti-racist campaigners, local councillors, students and academics have voiced outrage at the invitation, with more than 150 signing an open letter calling for the invitation to be revoked.
Oxford Stand Up To Racism's Ian McKendrick said: "In a climate of rising racism and racist attacks, and when the spectre of fascism is once again stalking Europe, the Oxford Union is helping a lead figure of the alt-right spread racist poison. This can only help drive up racist attacks and make it easier for fascists to enter mainstream politics.
READ MORE: Alice Weidel at Oxford Union: Pressure grows to revoke invite
"Across the world far right and fascists look to Bannon. We should remember that leaders of white supremacist groups and the Klu Klux Klan celebrated Bannon entering the White House."
But Union president Steven Horvath defended the move, saying: "The event with Mr Bannon provides an opportunity for our members to hear from an individual who has been at the centre of the rise in right-wing populism, as well as to critically question and debate the ideas and rhetoric of Mr Bannon.
"It is only through listening to the opinions of others that we can fully understand those opinions. Whether we are inclined to agree or disagree with them, there is a profound intellectual value in critically thinking through why it is that we agree or disagree instead or just rejecting them out of hand."
Tracy Walsh, treasurer of Oxford Unite Against Fascism, said: "The far right are making gains across Europe, the US and Latin America. They are using racism to divide us and this opens up space for fascism to grow.
"Last weekend we saw fascists openly marching with far right state officials on the 200,000 strong Independence Day march in Poland. We cannot allow the far-right to help fascism become part of mainstream politics again."
The St Michael's Street protest is planned for 2.30pm tomorrow, with Mr Bannon appearing at the Union from 4pm.
The letter in full:
We condemn the Oxford Union invitation to Alt-Right guru Steve Bannon to speak on 16 November. The Oxford Union is once again giving a platform to a far right speaker, and by doing so legitmising racism.
Bannon is attempting to build an Islamophobic international of far-right groups and is looking to fascist Tommy Robinson here in Britain as a key figure for his movement.
Bannon was the white supremacists' link to Donald Trump's White House until August 2017.
Touring far-right groups in Europe, Bannon told them, “Let them call you racists. Let them call you xenophobes. Let them call you nativists. Wear it as a badge of honour.”
We call on the Oxford Union to stop giving credibility to racism and fascism and cancel the invitation to Steve Bannon.
Signed:
Oxford Stand Up To Racism
Oxford Unite Against Fascism
Oxford Love Music Hate Racism
Jane Caplan Emeritus Professor of Modern History, University of Oxford
Professor David Smith Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford
Professor Robert Gildea History Faculty, University of Oxford
Professor Peter Somogyi Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford
Dr Thomas Newport St Cross College, University of Oxford
Alon Lischinsky Senior Lecturer, School of History, Philosophy & Culture, Oxford Brookes University
Anna Ashton Post-doctoral Researcher, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford
Professor Upamanyu Pablo Mukherjee Warwick University
Ruthi Brandt LMH alumna
Kevin Smith St Annes College alumni
Nicholas Carverhill St. John's College, Oxford
Robert Hallam Tuck St. Antony’s College (Alumnus)
Sam Hollick Oxford University alumnus
Eleonora Rossi Alumna - Merton college
Mark Haddon Author
Mike Rowley City Councillor
Ann Black Secretary, Oxford & District Labour Party
Stephen Marks vice-chair Oxford District Labour Party
Rabyah Khan Co-Chair, Oxford & District Labour Party
Gwynne Reddick Secretary Wantage constituency Labour party
Cherry Mosteshar Co-chair Oxford Momentum
Sam Gurney TUC regional secretary - London, East and South East
Pol O'ceallaigh President Oxford & District Trades Council
Elane heffernan UCU—NEC & Chair Disabled Members Committee
Dr Peter Dwyer UCU Executive, Ruskin College
Des McDermott Branch Chair, Ruskin College UCU
Grant Buttars UCU Edinburgh (Hon. President)
Chris Davis International officer, UNISON Oxfordshire Health Branch
Stuart Robinson Assistant secretary Oxfordshire National Education Union (NUT Section)
Kate Douglas PCS DWP South East Regional Secretary
Chad Croom CWU South Central postal branch secretary
Keith Hamilton CWU South Central postal, Political officer
Steve Gill CWU South Central postal sub-area delivery rep
Paul Garraway CWU South Central postal area delivery rep
Pat Carmody Unite SE Services Sector Committee
Michelle Codrington-Rogers Secretary Oxfordshire NASUWT Federation
Julie Clarke Primary school T.A GMB Workshop rep
Tracy Walsh Trade Union Tutor and Treasurer Oxford UAF
Dr Chris Blakey Retired teacher, former NUT NEC
Yasmin Sidhwa Mandala Theatre Company, Artistic Director
David hillman Chair Oxford PSC campaign
Till Weidner University of Oxford - PhD candidate, Engineering Science, Exeter College
Georgia Allen University College
Alice Nuttall Oxford Brookes
Michael Gribben Keble College
Dr Sos Eltis Brasenose College
Bilal Hakeem consultant
Philippa Dunlop Student at Oxford Brookes University
Dhruva Bhat St John's College
Héctor Sierra South London SUTR
David Shakespeare IT Services, Oxford University
katrina mayer GMB
Sarah Hayton Freelance
Mena Remedios Quaker
Tom Machell BECTU sector of Prospect Communications and Digital steering group
Anwen Jones None
Rob Hoveman Central European University
Sasha Simic USDAW C133 Shop Steward
edward pope human
Ryan Sherbo Mathematical Institute, Keble College
Abishek Kulshreshtha University of Oxford, DPhil Student
Julia Schnatz MSc. Economics for Development
Jamie Shenk Doctoral Student in Sociology, Oxford University
Zeena Oberoi Pembroke College
Harkan Karakaya University of York
Cheryl Lamb-Evans St. Peter's College
Helen Brown University of Oxford
Lucia Akard Dphil Student, Linacre College Oxford
Ciaran Walsh Oxford Stand up to Racism
Giles Ungpakorn retired academic
Robin Malloy St Hughs
N R Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
Shegufta Huma St. Antony's College
patrick wheatley DPIR
Tiffany Williams Project Manager
Joel Casey St Anne's College
Geoff Taylor Teacher, St Clare's, Oxford
Beth Hollins St. Catherine's College
Victor Max Smith Oxford Brookes Undergraduate Student
Levi Hord Wadham
Mark Crane AG-HERA
Annette Shaw Regents University
Lana Purcell LMH
Marlene Spangenberg University of Oxford
Chelsea A. Jackson New College
Lucas Kruitwagen Mansfield Colelge
Tony Tingle Sheffield Stan Up To Racism
Simon osborne Na
Peter Cann Labour Party
Marian Mayer Bournemouth University
Coral price Life
Jo McNeill President, University of Liverpool UCU
Sally Brooking Tula Publishing
Samantha Cranston Property management
Laura Kerr-Harnott Oxford Health NHS
Dana Mills Oxford Brookes University
Harry Paterson Broxtowe Constituency Labour Party
Mar Crego Walters Kellogg College
Kay Woolcock Retired
Milan Kloewer Jesus College
Anika Knuppel University of Oxford, Nuffield Department of Population Health
Nighat Malik Education
Emily Nhs
Beth Fransham School
Caroline Raine UNISON
Nigel Dobson retired teacher
Jenny Leow Homerton Unison (pc)
David Harvie University of Leicester
Nick White SHEFFIELD Hallam University
Sue Shaw Self
Charlie Purvis Sheffield Hallam University
Jo Brewis The Open University
Salma Baz University of leicester
Maya Vivian OLC PRODUCTION LTD PROJECT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Professor Megan Pivey University if Leedds
Jenny Lewis Retired teacher
Henna Khanom Wadham
Madeline Badcott Wadham College
Cristiana Rodrigues Coventry University London
Anne Browne Oxford NHS Hospitals Trust Foundation
Irene Guijt research
Louise Raw Journalist
Amy Chairwoman of L&B Labour party
Nikki Dancey GMB
Aimee Georgeson NHS
Kevan SUTR Derby
Christina Fox Lay Missionary from Oxford working in Kenya
Peter cooper Hope against hate
Dave Muritu Sandwell College UCU, NEC
Nadia Mitchell RUH
Jojo Goodfellow Charity
Tanya Laird Mother, grandmother. Friend of all . Working full time self employed business owner .
Jenny Shipley College
Pauline Sebti Retired
Lauren Fulcher Lady Margaret Hall
Paul Jackson National Library of Wales
Patricia McLoughlin None
Jude Piper University Hospitals Bristol NHS Trust
Dave Statham GMB Holborn
Ruth Axten retired teacher
Anne Taylor retired teacher
Lena Reim St Antony's College
Maya Arigala Study abroad student at Keble College for the semester
Lorraine Dindi Trinity College
Anthony Phillips Retired
Fanny Falkenberg MPhil International Relations, Balliol
Martha Cadle-Nisbet Mrs
Karen Evans University of Liverpool
Moira Giddens Wales Deanery
Maximilian Ahrens DPhil in Engineering, New College, Oxford
Nils Rochowicz Mansfield College
Andrew Forse Labour Party, Oxford East CLP
M. Mukherjee None
Al Jardes self, retired
David Smith Department of Pharmacology
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