We want our MTV Al-Jazeera!

Occupy protesters join effort to get Al-Jazeera on Comcast — Philly

The English-language offshoot of the Arab network Al-Jazeera claims a viewership of 250 million households in 120 countries on six continents, but in the United States, it is available in only five markets.

On Monday, about 40 demonstrators descended on the Philadelphia headquarters of Comcast Corp. to demand that it add Al-Jazeera English (AJE) to its lineup of cable offerings.

Although then-Vice President Dick Cheney criticized Al-Jazeera for appearing too close to Osama bin Laden when it repeatedly broadcast his taped propaganda, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton more recently recognized it for thorough and independent coverage of the Arab Spring.

Among the group were members of the Occupy Philadelphia movement, who assembled at Independence Mall and marched along Market Street, through the courtyard of City Hall and to the apron of the Comcast building at 17th Street and JKF Boulevard.

Julia Alford-Fowler, 33, an Occupy member, said there was minimal diversity in coverage by major networks.

“To not have [Al-Jazeera] is censorship,” she said. “If the American public is going to be educated, they need this viewpoint.”

The crowd chanted outside the building, and some Occupiers yelled insults at Comcast employees standing by the doors.