Palestine solidarity protesters burned their TV licences in front of BBC Bristol’s HQ on July 28 in protest at the broadcaster’s biased coverage of Israel’s onslaught on Gaza.
Peace activists began their occupation of BBC Bristol’s grounds on July 23.
The act of civil disobedience came after campaigners handed a dossier to BBC bosses providing examples of biased reporting of Israel’s war on the Palestinians.
It came after the BBC issued “notice to quit” letters in past couple opf days threatening court action if the protesters don’t end their “illegal occupation.”
But the group insists they will stay “until the BBC tells the real truth on Palestine.”
Alice, one of the protesters, said: “It’s ironic they are calling us an illegal occupation when they won’t say that about Israel.”
Campaigners are braced for a fight after they were tipped off that BBC bosses plan to kick them out by July 30.
Palestine Solidarity Campaign spokesman Ed Hill told the Morning Star: “A mole told us they’ve been meeting inside and the staff had been told we’ll be gone by Wednesday.”
A 60-foot Palestinian flag declaring “BBC occupied by friends of Gaza” stretches across the lawn and obscures much of the building.
Local people have flocked to the occupation for daily rallies and film showings at a pop-up cinema. A dozen protesters sleeping in tents have maintained the camp at night.
Among them is Eddy Clarke of Bristol’s Palestine Museum, which seeks to educate British people about Palestine’s plight.
The museum, opened last June by the mayor of Bristol and Palestine’s ambassador to Britain, is believed to be the only permanent Palestine museum in the western hemisphere.
Clarke criticised the “outrageous bias” of BBC reports, adding: “That’s why I’m here now standing up for the truth to be told.”
[Abridged from Morning Star Online.]
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