Many hundreds protested the BBC’s coverage of an anti-Semitic attack that occurred in London at the BBC Headquarters.
Campaign Against Antisemitism held 250 demonstrations, with signs saying “BBC News: Stop Blaming Jews!” While chanting “BBC News, where is the proof!” outside Broadcasting House Monday night, demonstrators from Campaign Against Antisemitism held signs that read: “BBC News: Stop Blaming Jewish People! “BBC News, tell the truth!”
The furore follows the reporting of anti-semitic incident on Oxford Street on November 29, during the Jewish holiday of Chanukah, in which a group of Jewish teenagers were accosted and forced back onto their bus by a group of men – who were seen hitting the vehicle with their hands and shoes while spitting and hurling anti-Semitic insults.
CAA stated that the BBC’s news site reported that Muslims were being racially abused from within the bus. It led to Jewish organisations accusing BBC of victim blaming.
The incident occurred after one reporter claimed that it wasn’t clear what role the alleged ‘anti Muslim slurs played in the incident.
CAA spokesperson said that tonight’s rally sent a signal to BBC that the Jewish community is fed up of BBC’s years of victimblaming Jewish people. The BBC has been downplaying the racism of Jews and promoting anti-Semitism.
250 antisemitic protestors belonging to Campaign Against Antisemitism, CAA held up signs saying “BBC News: No More Blaming Jews!” On Monday evening, around 250 demonstrators from Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) held up signs reading ‘BBC News: Stop Blaming Jews!’ “BBC News, tell the truth!”
Pictured: Dame Maureen Lipman, pictured, encouraged people to participate in the demonstration “because you care”
We demand answers from BBC about their shocking coverage of recent antisemitic attack on Oxford Street. BBC reports blamed Jewish teenagers.
“We also urge the BBC not to ignore the International Definition of Anti-Semitism nor accept anti-Semitism-training courses from us.
The group stated in a press release that the anti-Muslim slurs reported from within the bus were’made without any evidence to support’ and that the article was contradicted by an anonymous witness who claimed that she had not heard such slurs.
“BBC London Evening News suggested on its website that “it is not clear what role it plays.” [the supposed slurs]>
Lord Grade was a former Chairman at the BBC and described the journalism as “shoddy journalism”. He called for explanations in a video he shot to support the protest.
After Dame Maureen Lipman encouraged people, it was done.
Gideon Falter (Chairman of Campaign Against Antisemitism) addressed the crowd at the rally and said: ‘We don’t want to come here but we must be there, because we need to say: BBC News, Stop Blaming Jews.
He stated that he did not support the BBC’s assertion, but it is distracting from the truth, which is the fact that racist thugs prevented Jewish teenagers from celebrating Chanukah.
Fiyaz Moughal OBE was the founder of Muslims Against Antisemitism. He also spoke during the demonstration.
Fiyaz Moughal OBE was the founder of Muslims Against Antisemitism. Fiyaz Mughal OBE, the founder of Muslims Against Antisemitism (MAIN), spoke at the protest. He stated: “It is sad that we must come back here when Jews are being blamed by institutions in which we believe we should have trusted.”
Gideon Falter (Chairman of Campaign Against Antisemitism) addressed the crowd at the rally and said: ‘We don’t want to come here but we must be there, because we need to say: BBC News, Stop Blaming Jews.
Video footage captured the aggressors giving Nazi salutes towards the Jewish teenage boys
These brazen thugs did not seem to worry about getting in trouble with the police
He added: “It’s tragic we have to be out here again when Jews are blamed for institutions that we feel we should have trusted in.
The CAA claimed the BBC had failed to ‘respond substantively’ to them and other Jewish organisations in relation to the coverage.
They stated that the BBC had not responded to their inquiries in a timely manner and added that it was being criticized for its coverage of Jewish topics.
The BBC reported that a third of British Jews were deeply worried by BBC coverage of Jewish concerns, while 55% are concerned about its handling of complaints against antisemitism.
“These figures are a reflection of years of loss of faith in the BBC from the Jewish community.”
CAA said it had submitted a complaint to the BBC and written to the Chairman and Director-General to voice its concerns.
The letter asked the BBC for proof that an anti-Muslim insult can be heard while on the bus, and to explain why it is deemed a fact.
It said: “We have reiterated our call that the BBC adopts the International Definition of Antisemitism. And once more, we offered to train the Corporation on how to recognize and handle antisemitism. This will allow us to restore what little confidence remains in our country’s national public broadcaster.
Mail Online reached out for clarification to BBC