| |
  Anti-BNP protesters expected at BBC |
| |
 | Reported by guardian.co.uk
on Thursday, 22 October 2009
(on October 22, 2009) |
|  Related Tweets
 Related Headlines
 Full news story |
Day of BBC Question Time appearance for BNP leader Nick Griffin begins quiet, but with coachloads of protesters expectedThe first thing that visitors to BBC Television Centre today are likely to notice, ahead of Nick Griffin's controversial appearance on Question Time, is a union flag flying at full mast in front of the building - alongside another for Children in Need.At lunchtime today, the scene outside the BBC's main broadcasting centre on Wood Lane, west London, was peaceful, with only around 40 protesters, police and journalists present, although several coachloads of anti-fascist activists are expected this afternoon.Around a dozen people from the public service union Unite were gathered around a stall festooned with posters proclaiming "Stop the fascist BNP".Union officials were also handing out leaflets with Griffin's face emblazoned on them.
In bold pink and white colours, a slogan reads: "No plugs for nasty Nick … keep QT Nazi free."Over the road outside White City tube station, four Socialist Worker Party members were manning a stand and greeting commuters with chants of "The BNP are racist Nazis...
we don't want them on our TVs".Victoria Derbyshire, the BBC Radio 5 Live presenter, was interviewing people outside the building and there were also about half a dozen TV cameras crews setting up their equipment.
Across the road, an ITN satellite truck had just been told to move further away from TV Centre by the police.One protester, Robert Forsythe, was holding a placard that reads: "Shame on you BBC."Forsythe, a black artist and former musician, said: "I've come all the way from East Dulwich because I felt so strongly about this.
The BBC trustees have made a terrible mistake.
The BNP are not even a legal party."He described the far right's resurgence in the guise of the BNP as "like a second bad dream".
Forsythe said he was originally from Birmingham and had played with bands including UB40, who were active in anti-fascist campaigns in the 1980s such as Rock Against Racism.Asked if he was worried that violence might flare up at TV Centre today when more demonstrators arrived, he replied: "If I didn't get my legs broken in the 80s I doubt I'll get them broken now."At lunchtime there was only a small police presence - around four officers - patrolling the immediate area outside TV Centre on Wood Lane.
One was overheard telling his colleagues that he had cancelled a trip to the gym and an evening at a bowling alley to be on duty.There were also two security guards wearing brightly coloured fluorescent jackets and earpieces outside the BBC TV Centre reception and crash barriers had been erected on either side of Wood Lane outside the building.Things are expected to get livelier this afternoon, with Unite Against Fascism reportedly bringing 12 coaches of protesters to demonstrate about Griffin's Question Time appearance.Tonight's edition of Question Time is due to be filmed at Television Centre later this afternoon.• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857.
For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".
|
|
|
| Recent related news |
| |
Business Insider
2 days ago - Business | Lloyd Blankfein Should Resign!
The Wall Street bonus season is fast approaching and so is the anxiety level among the financial... »related headlines & tweets» |
Huffington Post
1 week ago - World | Robert Naiman: A Hundred Cities Against Escalation As the President Announces It
Recent press speculation suggests at least even odds that sometime in November, President Obama will... »related headlines & tweets» |
RTTNews
2 weeks ago - Business | House GOP, Protesters Rally Against Democrats' Health Reform Bill
House Republicans Thursday railed against the health reform bill being brought forward by Democrats,... »related headlines & tweets» |
guardian.co.uk
3 weeks ago - Politics | 'I would have served Boris'
This time last year he was Britain's most powerful police officer. Then he was sacked by new London... »related headlines & tweets» |
guardian.co.uk
on October 26, 2009 - Technology | 92-year-old's site leaves Shell shocked
How online protesters are using 'gripe site' as the focus for their complaints about big businessAt... »related headlines & tweets» |
| |
guardian.co.uk
on October 26, 2009 - Entertainment | Shell attacked by 92-year-old's website
How online protesters are using 'gripe site' as the focus for their complaints about big businessAt... »related headlines & tweets» |
teletext
on October 24, 2009 - UK | Soldier addresses anti-war protest
A serving soldier has spoke out at an anti-war demonstration to condemn the war in Afghanistan as an... »related headlines & tweets» |
teletext
on October 24, 2009 - UK | Protesters call for troops' return
Thousands of protesters will urge the Government to bring British troops home from Afghanistan.Lance... »related headlines & tweets» |
guardian.co.uk
on October 22, 2009 - Entertainment | Question Time protests - live
Tonight the BNP leader, Nick Griffin, takes his seat on the BBC's Question Time programme. Follow the... »related headlines & tweets» |
guardian.co.uk
on October 22, 2009 - Politics | BNP on Question Time - live buildup
Tonight the BNP leader, Nick Griffin, takes his seat on the BBC's Question Time programme. Follow the... »related headlines & tweets» |
| |
Huffington Post
on October 22, 2009 - World | BBC Besieged By Anti-Fascist Protesters Over Controversial Guest
LONDON — Police say that about 25 protesters have breached security around the BBC\'s... »related headlines & tweets» |
|
Tweet the News!
Facebook
E-mail
Twitter
Mixx
StumbleUpon
FriendFeed
Top News RSS Feed | News for my Website | Archive | Advertise | Help | Contact us | Bookmark
