Meinir Ffransis' imprisonment for 3 months in 1972 In July 1972 four protestors, Meinir Evans (now Ffransis), Enfys Williams, Emyr Hywel and Jeff Ifan went to London with the intention of breaking into the BBC archives, and made significant damage to many of files as part of the Welsh Language Society's broadcasting campaign to ensure the establishment of a Welsh language television channel for Wales.On October 31, the case came before a magistrate called Neil McElligott, and as the accused demanded the right to speak Welsh in court, and sang loudly when the request was refused, the magistrate ordered that they be kept in custody until November 20th for medical and mental tests and reports. The women fasted in Holloway as an additional protest. In the Court case, Emyr Hywel was sentenced immediately, but the other three were committed to the Crown court for sentencing on December 18th, where they were given an unconditional release - they had spent a total of twelve weeks in prison!The Campaign in the 1970s and the role of Gwynfor EvansLanguage campaigners had been fighting for a Welsh language television service throughout the 1970's. Prominent Welshmen refused to pay the license fee, campaigners broke into television studios, climbed masts and destroyed broadcasting equipment. A consensus grew for establishing a Welsh language television channel, and it became part of the manifesto for all of the political parties for the 1979 Election. When Margaret Thatcher and the Conservatives won the election they broke their pledge, and stated that a Welsh language channel would not be established. In 1980 Gwynfor Evans threatened to fast until death because of this breach of promise and the devastating impact this would have on the language. There was uproar throughout Wales, and Gwynfor's statement led to fierce protests. Gwynfor addressed dozens of packed public meetings throughout Wales and hundreds committed to refuse to pay their TV licenses. This led to prominent Welshmen such as the Archbishop of Wales at the time, Cledwyn Hughes and Goronwy Daniel attending a meeting with members of the cabinet, following which Margaret Thatcher surrendered and agreed to establish the channel. Protest a chyfarfod yn Llundain am gyllid S4C - BBC Cymru - 09/09/2010'Fel y BBC' - dadl S4C wrth gwrdd â'r Ysgrifennydd Diwylliant - Golwg360 - 09/09/2010'Ddim yn deall' - Cymdeithas yn cyhuddo'r Llywodraeth - Golwg360 - 09/09/2010S4C - dim gwybodaeth am gynnwys cyfarfod tyngedfennol - Golwg360 - 09/09/2010S4C given ultimatum by Jeremy Hunt - Guardian - 10/09/2010S4C given month to prepare financial plan - BBC Wales - 10/09/2010Welsh television company must prepare plan - stockmarketwire.com - 10/09/2010S4C: Mis o rybudd i gyflwyno cynlluniau ariannol - BBC Cymru - 10/09/2010S4C stays silent on "tough" meeting - Western Mail - 10/09/2010S4C - angen 'trafodaeth genedlaethol' - Golwg360 - 10/09/2010Jeremy Hunt gives S4C four-week deadline - digitalspy.co.uk - 10/09/2010