Oxford Union passes motion that it is institutionally racist

Photograph: Shaun Thein

The Oxford Union has today passed a motion that the Union is insitutionally racist, following a public outcry last week over advertising a cocktail in a manner deemed to be racist.

The cocktail was themed to coincide with the debate "‘This House believes Britain owes reparations to her former colonies" and was called, 'The Colonial Comeback!'. One version of the flyer depicted black hands in chains.

The events received national media coverage, and the Union BME Officer resigned the following morning, saying,  "I'm disgusted at the way they have behaved both, towards me, and the wider black community."

The motion passed today at Standing Committee was proposed by Union Treasurer Zuleyka Shahin. It followed a further motion, passed unanimously by the Committee, condemning the cocktail as racist.

Standing Committee passes motion that @OxfordUnion is institutionally racist #RhodesMustFallOxford

— Rhodes Must Fall Ox (@RMF_Oxford) June 1, 2015

The Standing Committee is chaired by Olivia Merrett, the President of the Union. She is reported by the Twitter account @RMF_Oxford, representing the 'Rhodes Must Fall' movement in Oxford, to have denied knowledge of the offending flyer prior to its release.

President saying she was completely unaware of the fact that a second poster had been created #RhodesMustFallOxford

— Rhodes Must Fall Ox (@RMF_Oxford) June 1, 2015

 Merrett was unavailable for comment at the time of publication. More to follow.