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UK NEWSSCUFFLES AND TAUNTS AS GRIFFIN SNEAKS IN THROUGH BACK DOOR
Police clash with anti-BNP demonstraters outside Television Centre last night 
Friday October 23,2009 By Mark Reynolds and Martyn BrownNICK Griffin cynically sported a Remembrance Day poppy as he took his place on the Question Time panel while outside more than 1,000 protesters clashed with police.
The BNP leader, flanked by a dozen burly minders, was sneaked through a rear entrance by BBC bosses who feared for his safety from anti-fascist groups. Amid one of the biggest security operations ever mounted at Television centre in west London – costing the taxpayer an estimated £100,000 – the convicted racist was allowed to take his place alongside the likes of Justice Secretary Jack Straw and Lib Dem Home Affairs spokesman Chris Huhne. Angry protesters arriving in coaches from around the country, held banners outside the centre which read: “Shame On You BBC”, “Nick the Nazi” and “Smash the BBC”. As a line of police fought to restrain the baying mob, there were furious scenes with scuffles breaking out and missiles thrown. Three people were arrested as 300 police struggled to control the powerful surges of the baying crowd. Mr Griffin said of the protesters: “I was rather expecting that. The Labour Party financed groups from all over the country, bringing a mob down here today. It was always going to be a fairly big event.” Members of the Question Time audience were also escorted into the building after having their passports checked. Among them was Frank Langan, 66, from Ealing, west London, who said: “I’m going to go in and find out what Nick Griffin has got to say. I don’t have to agree with it but I think it’s right that he is allowed on Question Time. I think everybody is entitled to their own opinion, even if you don’t like them.” At the front of the TV centre, as police helicopters buzzed overhead, Weyman Bennett, general secretary of Unite Against Fascism, told the Daily Express: “Regardless of their race and colour, all people are the same. Only the BNP don’t agree.
“When they accept that Hitler was wrong and the Holocaust happened, they can come into the democratic process. But not until then.” With traffic grinding to a halt, other protesters from all over the country flooded the streets, lit flares and voiced their anger at the BBC. Gary Harries, 24, from Brighton, said: “There is no way the BBC should allow such a fascist person on the show, especially as this will give the BNP a platform which they should not be allowed. The BBC, as a public-funded body, should hang their heads in shame.” At one point some of the protesters stormed the building but were quickly forcibly removed. As the time of the debate approached, protesters started yelling loudly: “We’re black, white, Asian and Jew, BBC shame on you” and “we won’t let Nick Griffin through”. As he left the television studios, senior BBC broadcaster Jeremy Bowen said: “I think it’s fine that people are protesting. It’s a legitimate protest. People are making clear their views. “I think we live in a free society and there’s free speech and while it’s obviously highly controversial, I personally think it’s the right decision to have him on.” One of the oldest protesters was Monty Goldman, 78, whose father Sidney marched against Oswald Mosley’s British fascist Black Shirts in east London in 1936. Mr Goldman, from Hackney, said: ‘This party, the BNP, is an absolute disgrace. This man is a Nazi and he is also a Holocaust denier.” Student Lukas Keudic, 20, was among those who managed to get to the doors of the studio itself. He said they were chanting in a peaceful protest when about 30 police officers started grabbing them. Others said the appearance would lead to more racist attacks. Ryan Bridgewater, 19, said: “I am opposed to the BNP because they are racist.”
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IT WOULD BE NICE.....
23.10.09, 7:49pm
....if immigrants intergrated with the rest of us, they do in America, so why not here.? The answer is that in America, immigrants are first and foremost AMERICAN, many of them still keep their language and culture in the privacy of their home, but outside, at school and work they swear alligence to the flag every morning, English is the first langage, and everyone is equal, if you work hard you get on, if you don't, it's their choice. There are no 'black' Associations only 'American' ones. The Labour party has segregated immigrants, by giving them preferential treatment, some areas are 'no go' for our Police.
• Posted by: Disgruntled • Report Comment
MAYBE I WANT TOO MUCH?
23.10.09, 7:07pm
I have never, and would never, support a party like the BNP, but, in a supposedly democratic country, people should have a right to express an opinion, more so when they are a democratically elected representative. The violence and problems are caused by some people who respond to the opinion exactly in the way it is hoped they will. This was evidenced by the anti-BNP demonstrators at the BBC who were prepared to break the law to stop the program and deny almost a million people their representation.
I thought some of the panel members were very hypocritical when they defended the free speech of the press to run an article about the death of a homosexual pop star and yet objected to someone expressing the fears of the people they represent.
Jack Straw was not very convincing when he tried to give the go ahead for Mr Griffin to say what he wanted without fear of the consequences of EU law. Jack Straw could not usurp such an authority even if he wanted to.
The only secure and peaceful future for the human race is to fully integrate and welcome a multicultural society. It will take a long time and the moderates on all sides must appreciate that there will be people with views like the BNP on ALL SIDES and we should not treat all members of a particular race, colour or religion as holding the same views as their extremists.
Maybe I want too much.
• Posted by: TheDA • Report Comment
NERVE AND RIGHT
23.10.09, 4:19pm
im not sectarian in any way but griffin is right on imigration ,we just can not afford to hand benifits out to tom **** and harry, labour brought the immigrant crisis on , they for one have a cheek looking down at him, at least he had the nerve to go into a hostile reception try getting , brown to do the same no chance
• Posted by: williamcassie08 • Report Comment
BNP ?
23.10.09, 1:48pm
The reason that The BNP were invited to appear on TV is due to a very simple fact that New Labour and anyone else protesting should consider.
At the EU Elections THE BNP WERE VOTED FOR BY THE BRITISH ELECTORATE IN THOSE CONSTITUENCIES.#
YES THE BRITISH ELECTORATE FED UP WITH INCOMPETENT NEW LABOUR, FED UP WITH MASS IMMIGRATION, FED UP WITH THE THOUGHTS OF BECOMING JUST ANOTHER STATE OF THE CORRUPT EU, JUST FED UP WITH THE THOUGHTS OF THAT HAPPENING AND TONY B'LIAR BECOMING THE EU PRESIDENT.
THE TRUTH WILL OUT AT THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION.
• Posted by: Damocles • Report Comment
TRUTH WILL OUT!
23.10.09, 11:58am
You want the truth..then go here
http://www.thegreenarrow.co.uk/index.php/news/newsbnp/429-what-the-paper-say-and-then-the-truth
• Posted by: lutami • Report Comment
THE BBC AND A MINORITY HIJACK PROGRAM!
23.10.09, 11:15am
It showed the BBC in a poor light the audience and panel were orchestrated in favour of anti BNP.
The show was not a question time as all current affair subjects were avoided to persecute one panel member.
To have an MEP on a current affairs programme not allowed to comment on any policies other than race was a disgrace to free speech
The show obviously thinks free speech is for only those you agree with who support the positive discrimination winning BNP many supporters!
• Posted by: lucan07 • Report Comment
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