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Anti-BNP protesters gather outside Televsion Centre
22 Oct 2009Anti-fascist protesters today leafleted BBC staff as they arrived for work ahead of BNP leader Nick Griffin's appearance on Question Time.
As security staff put up barriers for this evening's protest outside Television Centre in White City, Unite Against Fascism asked BBC workers to oppose the controversial debate.
The campaign group is expecting several thousand demonstrators, including students from three London universities, to attend their protest.
It is understood members of the far-left group Antifa, which has previously clashed with police at demonstrations against the BNP, will also be at the demo.
Weyman Bennett, joint national secretary of Unite Against Fascism, said: "I don't believe the BNP are going to be taken apart in the debate.
"What they are going to get is a massive hustings for their fascist and racist politics and the price for that will be an increase in the number of racist attacks."
Elane Heffernan, 47, a civil servant from East London, was outside Television Centre handing out leaflets claiming "No Plugs for Nazi Nick".
She said: "The BBC want to keep anti-fascists out of the audience. We all applied for tickets but didn't get one. A friend of mine was told she had a ticket but then they rang up and was told she didn't.
"The anti-racist majority are peaceful people. Whether it turns will be down to whether the police attack protesters."
Steven Ellis, 26, a librarian from Shepherd's Bush, said: "I am down here because the BNP should not be treated like a normal party.
"They don't respect the rights of others and the BBC should not be inviting them on Question Time.
"A lot of BBC staff agree with us. A lot of people will arrive later to show their opposition to what the BBC are doing."
