150 BAME broadcasters demand BBC reverse its ruling against Naga Munchetty

A group of 150 BAME broadcasters have written a letter to the BBC asking the corporation to reverse its ruling against Naga Munchetty.

Munchetty was reprimanded by the BBC for accusing US president Donald Trump of racism.

A BBC spokeswoman said on Wednesday (25) the corporation's Executive Complaints Unit [ECU] had ruled that while Munchetty was "entitled to give a personal response to the phrase 'go back to your own country' as it was rooted in her own experience, overall her comments went beyond what the guidelines allow for".

Those who have signed the letter include actors Adrian Lester and David Harewood, Channel 4 News anchor Krishnan Guru-Murthy and comedienne Gina Yashere.

Chancellor Sajid Javid has also backed Munchetty, and called the BBC's decision "ridiculous."

The letter, released to the media on Friday (27), reads: “We, the undersigned group of black people who work in the media and broadcasting in the UK, strongly condemn this finding and assert that it amounts to both a misunderstanding of the BBC's editorial guidelines and a form of racially discriminatory treatment towards BAME people who work on programming.”

The letter added that racism is not a valid opinion on which an 'impartial' stance can or should be maintained.

It continued: “For communities and individuals who experience racist abuse – including Munchetty – being expected to treat racist ideas as potentially valid has devastating and maybe illegal consequences for our dignity and ability to work in a professional environment, as well as being contrary to race equality and human rights legislation.

“To suggest a journalist can ‘talk about her own experiences of racism' while withholding a critique on the author of racism (in this case President Trump) has the ludicrous implication that such racism may be legitimate and should be contemplated as such.”

The letter also accused the BBC of setting a dangerous precedent for future journalists.

“We believe that in addition to being deeply flawed, illegal and contrary to the spirit and purpose of public broadcasting, the BBC's current position will have a profound effect on future diversity within the BBC.

“To suggest that future BAME broadcasters will be hired at the corporation on the premise that they remain 'impartial' about how they feel about their experiences of racism is ludicrous.

“To require journalists of all ethnicities and races to endorse racism as a legitimate 'opinion' is an abrogation of responsibility of the most serious nature.”