-- ACTION ALERT -- Complain to BBC of biased coverage
-- ACTION ALERT --
Complain to BBC of biased coverage
On BBC Radio Ulster’s Talkback programme on Monday 19th June, a caller to the show was allowed on-air to make false and defamatory allegations against Precious Life.
The presenter of the show - William Crawley - was interviewing two former SDLP Councillors regarding a Belfast City Council motion, which they abstained from voting on. The pro-abortion motion passed in April 2017 was an deceitful attempt to demonise the pro-life movement and stop them from reaching out to help vulnerable women in crisis pregnancies. (Click on image above to hear full interview)
The false allegations made on Talkback by “Tony” from West Belfast - of an alleged incident at the Family Planning Association “on the Lisburn Road” - went completely unchallenged by Mr Crawley. (Go to 10mins 45sec on the recording - https://youtu.be/iQ8cuwBey70)
Firstly, the incident could not have happened, not least, because the FPA isn’t located on the Lisburn Road. And secondly, like the Council motion, the Talkback programme assumed harassment and intimidation of women was taking place, without offering any evidence.
As Precious Life was mentioned specifically, we should have been given the right to reply to the false allegations. Director of Precious Life, Bernadette Smyth immediately called the BBC to complain about the biased coverage of the issue but was ignored and not allowed on-air.
TAKE ACTION
Contact the BBC to make a complaint about their biased coverage.
Telephone BBC Radio Ulster directly on 03030 80 55 55
Email : talk.back@bbc.co.uk
Twitter: @BBCTalkback
Text: 81771
Telephone BBC Northern Ireland on 028 9033 8000
Or write to :BBC Northern Ireland and BBC Radio Ulster, Broadcasting House, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast, BT2 8HQ
You can also contact the BBC on 03700 100 222
You can make an online complaint here
Or you can write to :BBC Complaints, PO Box 1922, Darlington, DL3 0UR
Contact the SDLP
We also urge you to contact the SDLP to voice your concern at the Party’s actions, and demand that the three courageous councillors - Pat Convery, Declan Boyle and Kate Mullan - are immediately reinstated with a full apology from the Party leadership.
Telephone SDLP Headquarters on 028 90247700, email info@sdlp.ie or write to SDLP Headquarters, 121 Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 1SH
Support the three Councillors
You can send messages of support to the three Councillors for taking their brave stand for the right to life of unborn children.
Contact Pat Convery : converyp@belfastcity.gov.uk
Declan Boyle : declan.boyle@belfastcity.gov.uk
Kate Mullan : mullankate@belfastcity.gov.uk
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The three Councillors were absolutely right to abstain from voting because the motion was based on faulty presumptions and presuppositions.
Of course, all right-minded people would condemn harassment and intimidation.
But the motion contained the false presumption that harassment and intimidation IS taking place. However, no evidence of incidents of harassment and intimidation was presented.
Therefore, it was totally wrong to expect pro-life councillors to vote ‘for’ or ‘against’ this motion.
A vote FOR the motion was playing into the hands of pro-abortionists who want to stop peaceful pro-life vigils and “sidewalk counselling” outside abortion agencies.
A vote AGAINST the motion would have given the impression of condoning “harassment and intimidation”.
So ABSTAINING was the only credible option.