Trial date set for student accused of racial hatred

A trial date has been set in 2028 for a University of Oxford student who has denied stirring up racial hatred during a pro-Gaza protest.

Samuel Williams is accused of chanting for Gaza to "put the Zios in the ground" at a demonstration in central London on 11 October last year.

During a hearing at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday, Williams, from Oxford, spoke only to confirm his name and his not guilty plea.

He was given conditional bail, with a trial date set for 17 January 2028.

The 21-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 a man 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 was suspended by Oxford University following his arrest.

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