A University of Oxford student has denied stirring up racial hatred by chanting for Gaza to “put the Zios in the ground” at a protest.
Samuel Williams is accused of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour during the demonstration in central London on October 11 last year.
The 20-year-old was charged after a video was posted online of a man chanting in Whitehall during a Palestine Coalition protest.
The video appeared to show the individual tell the crowd: “A steadfast and noble resistance in Palestine and in Gaza to look to, to be inspired by and – I don’t want to yap for too long – but a chant that we’ve been workshopping in Oxford that maybe you guys want to join in.
“It goes ‘Gaza, Gaza make us proud, put the Zios in the ground’.”
Williams, of Oxford, indicated on Tuesday a not guilty plea at Westminster Magistrates’ Court to stirring up racial hatred.
He was granted conditional bail to appear at Southwark Crown Court on February 24.
Deputy chief magistrate Tan Ikram said as a condition of his bail Williams must not participate in Palestine-related protests inside of the M25 or in Oxford.
Williams was suspended by the University of Oxford following his arrest.
Following the incident in October, the prime minister criticised the university, saying it had been “slow” to deal with the student.
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