Levellers Day

Members of Oxford Respect joined local trade union activists and peace activists at the annual Levellers Day event in Burford in Oxfordshire.

The day commemorates the events of the 17th May 1649, three soldiers were executed on Oliver Cromwell’s orders in Burford churchyard, Oxfordshire. They belonged to a movement popularly known as the Levellers, with beliefs in civil rights and religious tolerance. During the Civil War, they fought on Parliament’s side, had at first seen Cromwell as a liberator, but now saw him as a dictator. They were prepared to fight against him for their ideals and he was determined to crush them. Over 300 of them were captured by Cromwell’s troops and locked up in Burford church. Three were led out into the churchyard to be shot as ringleaders.

For more information see: http://www.levellers.org.uk/index.htm