Since the war in Syria began, over 4 million refugees – caught between the deadly barrel bombs of the Assad regime and the criminal brutality of ISIS – have been forced to leave their homes. While Germany has offered to take 800,000 refugees, the UK has ‘opted out’ of its EU responsibility to take care of some of these desperate refugees. Instead, our politicians seem to debate only how best to keep them out.

We reject the miserly and inhumane attitude of the UK government. We are determined to do our bit, and show our support for our fellow human beings caught up in Europe’s greatest refugee crisis since the Second World War. Like the marchers on the streets of Vienna and Dresden over the last week, like the football fans on the terraces at Borussia Dortmund, like the residents of Iceland offering to host refugees in their homes, we as residents of Oxford say: Refugees are welcome here!

We are Oxford citizens, from all backgrounds, all walks of life, all political views, all faiths and none.
Please join our demonstration this Sunday with only one message: “Refugees Welcome”

Please bring banners and placards that share this message of support and welcome for refugees.
This will be an entirely peaceful demonstration – children are of course very welcome.

See you on Sunday!