Chris Nineham
5000 protesters block the street outside the BBC, London, 15/07/14
Tuesday 15 July saw the biggest protest against BBC bias anyone can remember. Over five thousand people blocked the road and temporarily blockaded the BBC Broadcasting House over its blatant pro-Israeli bias.
Police failed to clear the road and traffic was forced to reverse out of the area. The atmosphere was intense and angry as speaker after speaker detailed the profound failure of the BBC to represent the opinions and experience of the Palestinian people.
The crowd chanted ‘are you going to film us? Are you going to film us?’ and ‘BBC Shame on you – Palestinians are people too’.
As if to underline their commitment to the Israeli cause, the BBC interviewed Tony Blair at the very time the protest was taking place, in which he able unchallenged to give Israel’s justification for war crimes in Gaza, which include killing dozens of women and children.
This is the second large mobilisation over Palestine in London within a few days, last Friday having seen over 5000 protesters blockading the Israeli embassy. There were also big protests at BBC studios in other cities around the country.
What we are witnessing is a mass popular upsurge against the Israeli onslaught on the Palestinians and Britain’s support for it. It is building to a National demonstration on Saturday 19 July, which could be one of the biggest demonstration of any kind for years.
The demonstration assembles at Downing Street at 12 midday and marches to the Israeli Embassy for a rally.
Coaches are being put on from towns and cities across the country to bring protesters to London. An estimated 30 coaches are coming from the West Midlands alone.
It is up to all of us to maximise the turnout in the next few days by emailing, sharing and tweeting the details of the demonstration to our family and friends, in our work places, colleges and local communities. Leaflets are available from the Stop the War office.
As one speaker said at the BBC protest in London said: Today we blocked the street, on Saturday we will block the city.
Our demonstration will be a message to our own government to stop supporting Israeli war crimes. And it will be a message of solidarity to the defenceless people of Gaza facing the unimaginable horror of indiscriminate bombing: You are not alone.
Protest outside the BBC, London 15/07/14
Source: Counterfire
