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BBC offices occupied in Manchester - v.brief early report

.... | 27.01.2009 18:13 | Anti-militarism | Culture | Palestine

A friend just rang to tell me that the BBC offices in Manchester have just been occupied..

The BBC offices in Manchester have just been occupied by Gaza solidarity activists, presumably in response to their decision to block DEC appeal adverts. The police had just arrived, but I don't have any more details as yet...

A quick web search tells me this is the address, if anyone fancies going along to support or join in:
BBC Manchester,
New Broadcasting House,
Oxford Road,
Manchester,
M60 1SJ

....

Additions

bbc

27.01.2009 21:21

clog up their freephone number 0800 044 044

save paying the complaint number rates.

sgwyther


Keep it up!

27.01.2009 22:22

Am passing the info around, but what would be really useful would be a phone number to call of someone in the building. Keep it up, keep the demands strong and clear, and we'll force the Beeb to back down!

P.S. Leeds Protest Against BBC, 5-7pm tomorrow, at the Broadcasting Centre next to West Yorkshire Playhouse. Bring banners, TV licenses and news of actions!

Rebel W


their not there

28.01.2009 00:03

any more i walked past it at 7:00 and there where just three coppers leaving.

my mate was in there from what i remember and this is a few pints later

they made 3 demands and the head of manchester bbc said something about they are probably going to show the appeal then they left or something like that.

Don't quote me though i wasn't there and this is all second hand.

there is a video of them though quite a few made it in

ballz


The bird's eye view from the pub opposite BBC Manc

28.01.2009 00:25

I walked down towards the Beeb for a meeting at 6pm. Finding the lobby full of protesters, I smiled to meself and reckoned the meeting cancelled.

I reckon the incursion probably happened around 5.30-5.45pm, a friend works in the building and said it took security a while to call the cops. Around 6.05pm, a G(i)MP van did a handbrake turn on the Oxford rd outside BBC M'cr. A load of cops ran out, a few ran into the building and the rest and blocked the door stopping other people coming in.

About five minutes later a TAU (Tactical Aid Unit - the Mancunion version of riot cops with a reputation of being "well 'ard") van pulled up. A few TAU and EG (evidence gatherer) leapt out and then stood, rather sheepishly, by their van.

There were more police than protesters and about half an hour later, the building was cleared. It looked like no-one was arrested. A couple of coppers were hanging out there when we left the pub around 10pm (nice bit of overtime there).

Finally, there have been daily protests outside BBC M'cr. They are between 5.30 - 6.30 if you're ever in the area and want to join in.

Odder Eyewitness


Comments

Hide the following 3 comments

AN Idea

28.01.2009 20:44

How about we stop paying the TV license. When they take us to court we tell them we no longer own a TV. The only way they can prosecute is if they catch you watching TV with out a license.

May be I am wrong. Can the detector van tell if you have a TV even if it is switched off?

In any case they will have to gather evidence for successful prosecution and I can't imagine the punishment will be too bad!

If enough of us do it then I think the BBC will have a problem.

The question is how many of us will actually do it?

Idea


Scrap the licence fee

29.01.2009 00:44

Scrapping the licence fee would mean the BBC could exist on voluntary subscriptions and say what it likes and braodcast any appeals it like.

The 'liberal', anti-semitic, sorry anti-zionist, and authoritarian lefties amongst us are terrified of the end of the licence fee. They regard the BBC as their mouthpiece.

That's why they find it so hard to understand the BBC's stance on the Gaza appeal. They feel betrayed by an organisation they regard as their own.


Scrap the licence fee!

Pete


Or how about...

29.01.2009 17:14

...you just stop watching TV and thinking for yourselves?

Chewinggumforthebrain