Protests as Holocaust denier appears at Oxford

Historian David Irving and British National Party leader Nick Griffin were at the forum to debate free speech. The pair were bundled into the hall hours before the debate was to take place, as protesters outside yelled ''Keep Oxford fascist-free; We will defend democracy.''

Just minutes before the debate was to begin, about 30 demonstrators ran through the security cordon around the Union, scuffled with BNP activists and staged a sit-down protest in the hall.

James Thomson, 20, one of those who broke into the Union, said at least one protester was injured after being punched in the head.

''I was there proving my point that I'm a history student, and that David Irving is as much of an offense to history as to Jewish people,'' Thomson said. The debate finally began at about 10 pm.

The Union, while independent of Oxford University, is composed mainly of university students. Created in the 19th century, the prestigious debating hall has hosted a diverse group including Malcolm X, Richard Nixon, Charlton Heston and OJ Simpson. Its Web site proudly touts its history ''at the cutting edge of controversy.''

Union members voted Friday to allow Griffin and Irving to speak, despite calls to have the invitations revoked. The union's president, Luke Tryl, has said he invited the men to talk about the limits of free speech, not to expound on their views.

"This is what this debate is about,'' Tryl said on Sunday.

Several students groups, including the Oxford Student Union and the university's Jewish and Muslim societies, have teamed up with activist group Unite Against Fascism to organize the protest.

''It's our way of showing that we all stand together ... opposed to racism, opposed to hate,'' said Steven Altmann Richer, the co-president of the Oxford University Jewish Society. ''Obviously we think the issue of free speech is very important, but it's very irresponsible to use the union's prestigious platform to lend legitimacy to the views of people like Nick Griffin and David Irving.''

Irving brought ball and chain to debate

Irving, a 69-year-old historian, has written some 30 controversial books, several of which defend Hitler and deny the systematic extermination of six million Jews by the Nazis in World War II. He was convicted by an Austrian court in February 2006 on charges of Holocaust denial and sentenced to three years in prison. He served 13 months and was released on probation. He arrived for Monday's forum carrying a ball and chain.

Irving has refused to use the term Holocaust, calling it a concept that ''became cleverly marketed.''

Griffin runs a party that campaigns on a fiercely anti-immigration and anti-Muslim platform.

Last week several lawmakers, including Britain's Defense Secretary Des Browne, canceled speaking engagements at the union because they said they found it inappropriate to speak in the same place.

But Liberal Democrat lawmaker Evan Harris, who is billed to speak at the event, said banning Griffin and Irving would risk turning ''bigots into martyrs.''

"It's not a question about giving them a platform, it's about giving them credibility," he told the BBC. "It's ridiculous and it's irresponsible."