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Posted on 05/27/2026 7:39:32 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
Christian and Islamic faith leaders have said they are "disturbed and saddened" after it was announced that Tommy Robinson had been invited to speak at the Oxford Union.
The far-right activist is set to take part in a debate in support of the motion "This house believes the West is right to be suspicious of Islam".
In a joint letter this week, the Bishop of Oxford, the Right Reverend Steven Croft, and Imam Monawar Hussain called on the society to withdraw its invitation.
The Oxford Union has been contacted for a comment.
The debate was set to take place on Thursday, but has since been postponed to later in the term to "allow time for planning of the event", the union said in a statement on Saturday.
Croft and Hussain, who co-chair both the Oxfordshire and Thames Valley Faith and Civic Leaders Forums, said they had been "very disturbed and saddened" by the announcement.
"This invitation comes at a time of rising tensions between communities," they said.
"As faith and civic leaders across Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley we stand together against hatred, racism and those who would divide our communities."
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is a prominent political campaigner and founded the far-right English Defence League, known for its protests against what it called "radical Islam".
He also has a history of criminal convictions, including for assault, mortgage fraud and contempt of court.
In a statement issued via Instagram on Saturday, the Oxford Union said: "The Fifth Week debate has been postponed from 28 May to later this term to allow time for planning of the event.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
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Just like Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi?
Oh, we must not offend by speaking contrary ideas, you know. After all, mean speech is the same as violence. spit/
Nice one.
What’s wrong with dialogue and open debate? What’s the purpose of Oxford if it’s not for that?
Nelson Mandela, too.
Mario Savio’s philosophy of free speech was rooted in the defense of unpopular opinions and marginalized causes, most famously displayed during the 1964 Free Speech Movement (FSM) at UC Berkeley. He argued that a university must be a place where scholars and students can engage in the free inquiry of "what ought to be, not just what is".
Savio argued that true freedom is tested by defending unpopular, dissenting, and marginalized opinions. He strongly criticized universities for acting as bureaucratic "knowledge factories" that suppressed radical voices, asserting that student spaces should be used for organizing social movements. He pushed for no restrictions on speech content, excepting those imposed by the courts.
In his iconic 1964 address, Savio used the metaphor of placing one's body on the gears of an unjust, "odious" system to force it to stop. This speech solidified his role as a pivotal leader in the Free Speech Movement, justifying civil disobedience to protect liberties.
“far right activist”.
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