The organisers of Youth Against Racism’s protest against the planned appearance of the far-right BNP on BBC’s Question Time say they have been thrilled by the support they have been receiving from the general public and the trade union movement. The protest is scheduled to take place this Thursday, 15th October, at 5.30pm outside BBC Broadcasting House in Belfast.
 
Just days after  BECTU, the union which organises the BBC’s technical staff, officially backed the protest, Jim Barbour of the Fire Brigades Union National Executive has hit out against the BNP:
 
‘The BNP are an organisation which must be challenged at every turn. They use racist propaganda to build support, propaganda which leads to racist attacks. This party is also entirely opposed to workers’ rights. They oppose trade unionists who stand up for their rights, including firefighters who took strike action in 2002.’
Paddy Meehan, Youth Against Racism spokesperson, said:
 
‘We are delighted by the support we have received from the trade union movement. Ordinary people are disgusted by the idea of Nick Griffin and others like him being invited onto Question Time. This is in stark contrast to the BBC. While giving the BNP an opportunity to spew their racist lies on national television, the BBC have refused to report on our protest against their decision to give the BNP such a platform.’
 
This protest is linked to a campaign which is taking across Britain and Northern Ireland in the run-up to the scheduled appearance of the BNP on Question Time on 22nd October.
Advertisement