Demonstrators at a protest march have claimed Oxford “is at risk from Islamic extremism”.
A ‘patriots march’ has taken place this afternoon (Saturday, December 20), starting in St Clements and heading towards St Giles via Bonn Square.
The march started off with around 10 people, but was expected to grow to around 50 later on in the route.
Harry Knipe-Gibbs of Oxford told this newspaper during the protest that the city is at risk from Islamic extremism and cited a local example of antisemitism.
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“I’m here to stand with the Jewish community and British community, but all communities really,” said the 26-year-old.
“I want to form social cohesion, and it’s a peaceful protest; we’re not a discriminatory group, and we don’t hold animosity to any group.
“I think certain groups are oppressing other groups, and I was talking to my friend at the synagogue at the Shabbat meal, and he lost a friend at the attack in Manchester.
“There is a problem with Islamic extremism, and it is posing a threat and showing intimidation to the Jewish community, and it needs to be resolved.
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“We have to stand up to it and bring back the social cohesion, as I think Oxford is at risk from Islamic extremism.
“Someone approached my friend who was wearing a yamaka in the city centre and told him that Hitler should have gassed all the Jews.
“That was an unprovoked attack, horrific really.
“We need to defang radical Islam and be tougher on it. We’re not blaming all Muslims, but we are blaming radical Imams who do provoke hate speech and target Jews and Christians.”
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Aiden Noble of Barton has lived in Oxford for most of his life and was the main organiser behind the protest march.
The 27-year-old said: “We have got a march to St Giles going on, so we’re going to have some good chats and have a laugh.
“Our ultimate aim is obviously we want Labour out. We want to stop the boats.
“We are expecting 50 people to come along, and we’ve had low numbers recently. I’m not going to pretend we haven’t, but it’s winter and not a lot of people want to come out.
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“There are a lot of police out, but they’re just trying to manage it, and they seem to be happy, and you don’t tend to get a lot of problems off them.
“There is a counter protest up in Bonn Square, they’re going to shout words, but words don’t hurt us because ultimately we’re here to protest what we think is right.
“Everybody’s got different views, and I like to listen to their views as well as I’m not fully right and I’m not fully left- I’m in the middle.
“Speak to me. If you want to sit down and have a decent chat, then I’m happy to do that because, ultimately, I’m happy to speak to people.”
A counter protest occurred at Bonn Square close to the Westgate shopping centre with members of Oxford Stand Up To Racism present.
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