AN anti-racism group says it is ‘shameful’ that an Oxfordshire town mayor has remained silent after racist and fascist graffiti was spray-painted onto a park tree.

Oxford Stand Up To Racism has condemned Mayor of Woodstock Mathew Parkinson for failing to take a clear position on the graffiti which appeared on a tree last week in the New Road Play Area.

Pat Carmody, member of the group, said: “It is shocking that there are people in the area willing to spread such hate, but it is utterly shameful that the Woodstock Mayor, Mathew Parkinson, refuses to speak out against the fascists spray-painting swastikas, support for Adolf Hitler (88 is code for Heil Hitler) and racist abuse.

ALSO READ: Nazi swastika appears on Oxfordshire park tree

“There is a rising tide of racism, and such graffiti is an attempt to intimidate black and Asian people in our community. Recent figures indicate an extraordinary increase in racist hate crimes in Britain. Racially motivated offences accounted for three quarters of all hate crimes and increased by 4,000 in 2019-20 from the previous year.

“This is why there has been such strong support for the Black Lives Matter movement, but the anti-racist message is being ignored by the Mayor. “

“We need unity against racists and fascists. We need to send a message to those spreading racist and fascist poison that they are not welcome.”

Woodstock town councillor Sharone Parnes asked Mayor Mathew Parkinson in a full council meeting on Tuesday to speak out and issue a ‘strongly worded’ notice clearly recording the council’s ‘disgust’ at the graffiti and stating that the perpetrators should turn themselves in.

But Mr Parkinson said racism was a ‘touchy subject’ and he did not want to post a notice without first meeting with the council.

He asked for his colleagues to send suggestions of what might be appropriate to post online.

The mayor has been contacted for comment.