A FAKE letter addressed to students about the Cecil Rhodes statue has circulated on social media.
The letter has been written in the name of Oriel College and Chancellor of Oxford University, Chris Patten, and was posted on a public Facebook group called Jacob Rees-Mogg Back-Up Group.
It has been shared more than 200 times and makes bold statements opposing the Rhodes Must Fall campaign and Black Lives Matter movement.
ALSO READ: Oriel College board wants to remove statue
It says: 'This ludicrous notion you have that a bronze statue of Cecil Rhodes should be removed from Oriel College, because it’s symbolic of “institutional racism” and “white slavery”. Well even if it is – which we dispute – so bloody what?'.
It also states: 'Of course, you are perfectly within your rights to squander your time at Oxford on silly, vexatious, single-issue political campaigns.... We are well used to seeing undergraduates – or, in your case – postgraduates, making idiots of themselves. Just don’t expect us to indulge your idiocy, let alone genuflect before it'.
The letter was posted on the social media site by a person called Dolly Jackson and people have commented believing it to be true.
One person commented: "Well written and very true."
While another said: "This is absolutely wonderful! Well said, I applaud you from the bottom of my heart!"
ALSO READ: Oxford's Rhodes Must Fall Protests
Someone else commented: "Finally common sense. So great and to the point. Thank you Chris Patten for speaking out."
Oriel College and Oxford University has been contacted for comment.
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