The history of Levellers Day:
On 17 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, the Levellers fought on Parliament's side,
they 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.
In 1975, members of the WEA Oxford Industrial Branch went to
Burford to reclaim a piece of history that seemed to be missing from the school
books. They held a meeting in remembrance of the Leveller soldiers. The
following year, Tony Benn came and read in the church and in each succeeding
year, people have come to Burford on the Saturday nearest to 17 May, debated,
held a procession, listened to music and remembered the Levellers and the
importance of holding on to ideals of justice and democracy.
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