Police dragged protesters away from the Oxford Union in violent clashes as far-right figure Tommy Robinson appeared for a debate on Islam — with one demonstrator kicked in the head and another punched in the face.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, eventually entered the iconic debating chamber where Winston Churchill, Bill Clinton and OJ Simpson once spoke, after a delay that left part of Oxford in lockdown. Crowd control barriers cordoned off the union building, separating rival camps of supporters and opponents.
“Violent clashes as police drag protesters blocking Tommy Robinson's Oxford Union debate on Islam”
Former Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, who was opposing Robinson in the debate, posted on X minutes before the scheduled start: 'Please could the Thames Valley Police allow people into the Oxford Union. Protesters are blocking the entrances while law and order is not being upheld.'
Thames Valley Police responded that the protests outside had blocked some guests, but added: 'The decision to suspend entry to the event was taken by the event organisers, not the police.'
Violence erupted as a group of attendees — claiming to have been invited by the Union president — began pushing through. An anti-Robinson protester was kicked in the head; another was punched in the face.
Protester Tammy Samuels, 23, who had travelled from Cardiff, said: 'He's vile. I cannot believe such a prestigious organisation as this has allowed him here. I saw that poor bloke have his head kicked.'
Anti-racist groups chanted 'Oxford is anti-fascist' and 'racist scum off our streets'. Earlier, a march organised by Stand Up To Racism and other groups carried signs reading 'No Islamophobia, no antisemitism' and 'Stop the far-right'. Robinson supporters waved Union Jack and St George's flags.
The debate — on whether the West is 'right to be suspicious of Islam' — went ahead in reduced capacity, with sources inside saying the union chamber was 'half empty'. One attendee denied entry, who wished to remain nameless, told Metro: 'It's really disappointing. As I'm not from the UK, I actually only found out who Tommy Robinson was yesterday. I just wanted to go and see a healthy and constructive debate.'