On Sunday 16 November, a “unity march” across Oxford organised by Oxford Stand Up To Racism took to the streets. Oxford Stand Up To Racism described the march as a celebration of Oxford’s diverse culture and the “City of Sanctuary” status that Oxford holds, as well as a stand against antisemitism and Islamophobia.
Oxford was awarded City of Sanctuary status in December 2024, with the status being a recognition of providing effective support to all vulnerable groups, particularly refugees and asylum seekers. The University of Oxford was awarded the status of a University of Sanctuary a year earlier, in July 2023.
According to Oxford Stand Up To Racism, the march was attended by over 350 people across its length. It started at Templars Square in Cowley, before making stops on Cowley Road and High Street, and concluding at Bonn Square around two and a half hours later. Accompanied by many loud drums and tambourines, the protesters chanted, “Stop the hate, stop the fear, refugees are welcome here.”
Among the banners carried by the protesters were all three major political parties on Oxford City Council: Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and the Green Party, with the latter having a strong presence at the front of the march. Among them were also signs for Unison, Unite the Union, and The Communication Workers Union (CWU), as well as the North Oxfordshire Socialist Alliance.
Also present was a banner for the Coalition to Keep Campsfield Closed, an organisation standing against the reopening of the Campsfield Detention Centre in Kidlington. Campsfield closed in 2018, but was announced last year to be reopening, and in June it was announced that Mitie, who had run the centre before its closure, would be returning as the contractor. The Coalition have accused Campfield of being a place of “inhumane conditions” under Mitie and before, and are protesting themselves next week against the reopening. Campsfield is planned to reopen in December.
Oxford Stand Up To Racism also denounced the actions of Thames Valley Police for allowing counter-protesters at a rally assembly point. The organisation described these counter-protesters as a “rump of ten fascists”, and accused Thames Valley Police of having “facilitated” the counter-protesters.