Over 100 people have gathered outside the Oxford Union in a vigil to protest the “casual response” to rape allegations against Union President Ben Sullivan.
This follows the Union’s decision to avoid a vote of no confidence in Sullivan last week.
Sullivan was arrested on 7th May on suspicion of rape and attempted rape and subsequently released on bail without charge.
Since then, the Oxford Union has come under criticism from students and the wider public. Several of this term’s planned speakers have cancelled engagements at the Union, including Tawakkol Karman, Julie Meyer, Eric Whitacre, and Norman Finkelstein. Other speakers, like philosopher A.C. Grayling, have defended their decisions to attend on the basis that Sullivan is innocent until proven guilty.
Get the most recent updates on Twitter here.
The #OxfordUnionVigil has concluded. It’s understood President Ben Sullivan is present at tonight’s Union debate.
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) June 5, 2014
Reports that Union chamber doors were locked after protestors tried to enter with banners #OxfordUnionVigil
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) June 5, 2014
Interesting that the @TheOxfordMail have their “Crime Reporter” on scene at the #OxfordUnionVigil
— Max Long (@maxlxng) June 5, 2014
Union security taking the banners down #OxfordUnionVigil pic.twitter.com/s2XCubUNix
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) June 5, 2014
Protestors pin their banners to the Union rails #OxfordUnionVigil pic.twitter.com/hqlMaYS98c
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) June 5, 2014
People beginning to leave the vigil #OxfordUnionVigil pic.twitter.com/Ghhr9y9skE
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) June 5, 2014
Another three minutes silence #OxfordUnionVigil pic.twitter.com/jzzaXRGf60
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) June 5, 2014
Speakers continuing to talk in protest outside the Union #OxfordUnionVigil pic.twitter.com/QMdRGRlspJ
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) June 5, 2014
Crowd outside the Union frustrated by Banerjee and Lapwood’s comments #OxfordUnionVigil
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) June 5, 2014
Union announces that it will introduce consent workshops in Michaelmas and make votes of no confidence binding #OxfordUnionVigil
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) June 5, 2014
Inigo Lapwood, whose speech at the No-Con debate led to the abandonment of the vote, speaks. #OxfordUnionVigil pic.twitter.com/L0LhGFiZ15
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) June 5, 2014
President-Elect Mayank Banerjee says he is ‘just here to listen’ and declines to speak full #OxfordUnionVigil pic.twitter.com/kZfjEpFZAQ
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) June 5, 2014
Sarah Pine asking President-Elect Mayank Banerjee to speak. #OxfordUnionVigil pic.twitter.com/mFe8rg7j68
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) June 5, 2014
A survivor performing a poem about her experience #OxfordUnionVigil pic.twitter.com/mSvoDCKlYS
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) June 5, 2014
Innocent until proven guilty: ‘what I hear is “I don’t believe these women until the law says i should”‘ pic.twitter.com/j8TFVsHrvS
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) June 5, 2014
OUSU VP for women Sarah Pine speaking: ‘Let’s talk about what we can do’ #OxfordUnionVigil pic.twitter.com/CXVq4QZwMp
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) June 5, 2014
Nearly all women speaking outside the Union #OxfordUnionVigil pic.twitter.com/ty70iUtWK7
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) June 5, 2014
Members still entering the Union for Thursday’s weekly debate #OxfordUnionVigil pic.twitter.com/uJFZMOd0ol
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) June 5, 2014
‘Solidarity from Birmingham’: members of the Birmingham Women’s Association. #OxfordUnionVigil pic.twitter.com/tKvPA8fOQO
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) June 5, 2014
Such an amazing positive vibe about such a negative issue at #OxfordUnionVigil
— JPH (@dontbeajerkjph) June 5, 2014
Students and Oxford townspeople speaking at outside the Union #OxfordUnionVigil pic.twitter.com/UTcdRJVsJT
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) June 5, 2014
Nathan Akehurst now speaking #OxfordUnionVigil pic.twitter.com/jUMks23OFQ
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) June 5, 2014
Annie Teriba now speaking in front of the Oxford union #OxfordUnionVigil pic.twitter.com/OoKz0sA0DL
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) June 5, 2014
Barnaby Raine addresses the Oxford Union #OxfordUnionVigil pic.twitter.com/cQSPM1Pmbn
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) June 5, 2014
Attendees stand up to speak the #OxfordUnionVigil pic.twitter.com/2fLuxvsprs
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) June 5, 2014
Two minutes of silence at the #OxfordUnionVigil pic.twitter.com/lbnsB5QmNU
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) June 5, 2014
Large crowd outside the Oxford Union #OxfordUnionVigil pic.twitter.com/2NKgpCDXnS
— Max Long (@maxlxng) June 5, 2014
