THE BBC has come under fire for only having 30 seconds of coverage of more than a thousand protesters forcing the Home Office to release two men they had detained in a dawn raid.
The broadcaster's six o'clock news programme only showed a small clip of the protests in Kenmure Street, Pollokshields, Glasgow.
Activists rushed to the scene yesterday morning at around 9.40am when they got word that two Indian nationals had been detained.
One protestor managed to squeeze himself under the van, stopping the immigration enforcement officers from being able to leave the street. Police Scotland were called to the scene at 9.55am.
As the day went on, hundreds of people from the local community started to turn up and surround the van. By lunchtime police had created a human shield around the vehicle and dozens of police riot vans blockaded each end of the street.
The protestors refused to back down, chanting “These are our neighbours, let them go” and “refugees are welcome here”.
READ MORE: Scotland reacts as Home Office brands Kenmure Street protesters a 'mob'
When police tried to move them on, they sat down in solidarity and refused to leave until the two men were released.
But the BBC only showed 30 seconds of coverage of the day from before the men were released as protestors cheered.
The presenter said the protesters crowded round the van "attempting to prevent it from leaving a street in Glasgow", adding: "Some of the protesters were heart shouting 'let our neighbours go.'
"Police Scotland said a number of its officers had been called to the southside in the city to support the UK Border Agency.
"First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described the situation as 'deeply concerning.' Tonight the two men have been released."
Dave King said the broadcaster is "sanitising the news".
As if the refusal by @BBCNews to report on the video by @PeterStefanovi2 showing the lies of Boris Johnson isn't bad enough, now they are sanitising the news from #Pollokshields showing the humiliation of the home office by peaceful protest. The BBC as Tory propaganda. #Shame https://t.co/p5sc3Yh6Cv
— Dave King (@daverking) May 14, 2021
Elaine Harrison said the BBC was "skillfully and deliberately not showing the hundreds of protesters who managed to stop the deportation".
BBC skillfully and deliberately not showing the hundreds of protesters who managed to stop the deportation. https://t.co/LF4S2oYJ2C
— Elaine Harrison (@ElaineH74188964) May 14, 2021
Phil Gould said the report should be investigated by Ofcom, adding: "This is surely a breach of the BBC’s charter. And we see this time and time again!"
@Ofcom - the BBC must be investigated for this abject lack of partiality. This is surely a breach of the BBC’s charter. And we see this time and time again! https://t.co/gLn8RrN1CW
— Phil Gould (@bongosaloon) May 14, 2021
Others questioned why there wasn't more in-depth coverage from the broadcaster.
1.
The HORDE of people there. Not seen. And then a seque to benefit fraud.
— PJ Coffey (@Coffmeister) May 14, 2021
They used to ask tough questions when I was growing up but they've been taken over to become a state propaganda outlet. https://t.co/fTShXQa0ub
2.
Wow. Compare the photo from the protests in Glasgow yesterday with the coverage by @BBCNews! Quite a contrast... https://t.co/o9x3akwH1m pic.twitter.com/SXOeAKzToc
— Allen Archaeology 💙 (@allenarchaeo) May 14, 2021
3.
BBC really went: 'lets make decent people standing up for human rights look like fools and ignore the huge crowd or the failings of an abusive system.'
— Shanzie ♡̆̈ (@shan_the_druid) May 14, 2021
What's new. Despicable as usual. https://t.co/PlCmXA2O9x
4.
BBC propaganda coverage, made to look like just a handful of protestors against UK government policies, versus actual footage.
— Max Saftness (@saftycyclist) May 14, 2021
Scotland is slowly but surely drifting further from Westminster control.https://t.co/11ZiCBvZGy https://t.co/D7xoEkZxjl
5.
Is there a link to the background to this? Why did immigration turn up and how did #anwarhadid negotiate their release. Amazing.
— Annette (@AnnieMaggieMart) May 14, 2021
And the next news item! Dear God, it’s all us frauding. Bet more time on that news than nothing else. https://t.co/QdXjhUEY2u
6.
I have no doubt @BBCNews are working around the clock to dig something up on our fellow citizens that the ‘mob’ released yesterday, and will feature it heavily over the weekend #Pollokshields #BeMoreGlasgow https://t.co/gZ9z4lVNcr
— S (@grumpycyclist72) May 14, 2021
7.
We all saw that footage from Glasgow yesterday right? Powerful stuff eh.
— Bobby Xennial | DJ BobaFatt (@BobaFatt) May 14, 2021
Check the @BBCNews Edit...
This is shameful. Literal propaganda. https://t.co/TsM6pfUgQZ
8.
Absolutely shocking. The BBC don't care about Scotland. https://t.co/4yIl8ujmIe
— JLC #FBPE🏴🇪🇺 (@Ballingryboy) May 14, 2021
9.
How the @BBC reported it. Note the continuation - straight into ‘benefit fraud’. #BBCBias https://t.co/kIGATOai4n
— James Tapper (@JamesJohnTapper) May 14, 2021
10.
The @bbcnews is so disgustingly biased, all because it’s scared of Tories threatening the license fee. What a cowardly institution it has become. Btw when did UK start having a ‘immigration agency’?! Damn racist @ukhomeoffice https://t.co/Ti1b6iMEQp
— Eif (@eifp) May 14, 2021
11.
Less a story, more of a set up for benefits fraud peice. https://t.co/wjZyflfZqS
— Plop of sentimental mush on the landscape (@MeAndMyBCause) May 14, 2021
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