Bbc Picketed Over Free Air Time For Racist Political Party

Demonstrators picketed BBC offices Friday to protest plans to allow a free campaign broadcast by the British National Party, which advocates deportation of nonwhites.

“What they stand for is a challenge to the democratic rights of black people, lesbian and gay people, people with disabilities,” said Jude Woodward, campaign coordinator for National Assembly Against Racism.

More than 100 people demonstrated in front of British Broadcasting Corp.’s London headquarters, chanting “BBC, pull the plug on the BNP.”

The party, estimated to number 500-600 members, qualified for free air time simply by fielding 50 candidates for Parliament. But its chances of winning any seats in the May 1 election are slim. It has won only one election - a seat on a local council in east London in 1993.

“Our whole purpose in getting on the television is to address 55 million Britons,” BNP organizer Richmond Edmonds said. “And we are attempting to build a party that will defend the interests of the British people against the sellout of the establishment parties.”