tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post5495586094425039206..comments2024-03-26T10:03:51.827+13:00Comments on Karl du Fresne: Anti-tour protesters pushed their luck that night in Molesworth StKarl du Fresnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054853925940134404noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-10578647873361388252021-08-17T23:42:21.377+12:002021-08-17T23:42:21.377+12:00Karl, I was in the second row of the march which w...Karl, I was in the second row of the march which went up Molesworth Street. You are correct that the decision was made to push on to the SA embassy from Parliament grounds. We set on up Molesworth St from the Cenotaph entrance to Parliament and just before the main gates into Parliament (near to where the now demolished Molesworth Fish and Chip shop was) a line of police came across and locked arms to try to halt the progress of the march. Momentum forced the police officers back. Then a line of police with plum wood cudgels came at us and started clubbing. It was particularly violent and frightening. I fell to the ground and scrabbled off to the right and ran down an alley near to the fish shop. The police wished to make a stand. There was no violence or intimidation on the part of the marchers, although I suspect the organises new what was coming. Tepeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10571049114971382644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-39223279314356252512021-08-02T09:19:36.342+12:002021-08-02T09:19:36.342+12:00Thanks Karl a good read and as someone who attende...Thanks Karl a good read and as someone who attended 4 matches in 81 including the Waikato game refreshing to see someone who opposed the tour but respected the rights of other Kiwi's to go about their lawful activities and go to a game of rugby. The moment in Hamilton the protestors got on the field and the police turned to face the crowd, in fear of the crowd attacking the protestors I suppose, a low growl went up in the crowd which I think was more than just people angry over a cancelled game of footy.<br /><br />I have also never forgotten going to the 1st test in Christchurch and afterwards chatting to a rugby supporter who opposed the tour. He wouldn't even watch it on TV but did ask me how his favourite player went. I respected his honesty and views and the fact he didn't try to impose them on me. We talked amiably for some time on the pro's and cons of the tour but we both agreed that once a legitimately elected government had decreed it was legal then we were entitled to attend and no one was entitled to prevent us.<br /><br />Unfortunately the worst of the protestors didn't share that view and turned up looking for a fight and looking to disrupt my rights to attend a gathering (for whatever purpose).<br /><br />A group of people tried to take away my rights by force and in Hamilton succeeded.<br /><br />Its why I still loath them till this day.<br /><br />On a bright note the Boks didn't win any of the matches I attended so that was a bonus.<br />Russell Parkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998289720002196469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-1348346892635843232021-08-01T13:38:56.336+12:002021-08-01T13:38:56.336+12:00My then husband was in the Red Squad...probably br...My then husband was in the Red Squad...probably broke up our marriage but won't bore you with that. A difficult time for him with family members on the other side of the barricades. A good read thanks Karl & commenters.Hilary Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00240590567749247083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-72881154034640560172021-08-01T10:46:47.721+12:002021-08-01T10:46:47.721+12:00To pdm: Thanks for your comment. Ross Meurant was ...To pdm: Thanks for your comment. Ross Meurant was 2IC of the Red Squad, which wasn't involved in the Molesworth Street fracas.Karl du Fresnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05054853925940134404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-58194194716161884092021-07-31T22:34:49.240+12:002021-07-31T22:34:49.240+12:00I wasn't there, but I was in the protests at t...I wasn't there, but I was in the protests at the Basin a few weeks later. My flatmates were there. They said the protest organizers screwed up and the march blundered into the police line they believed would pull back. And the police were just young cadets from Porirua police College, and they didn't know what they were doing. It was just a fuck up.Paul Goldstonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18411756337339349459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-62348249606620484152021-07-31T20:16:28.847+12:002021-07-31T20:16:28.847+12:00My flatmate was protesting there that night and go...My flatmate was protesting there that night and got bashed to the extent that at one stage he feared for this life.Across town I was at another action, a brief occupation of the NZRFU office. A handful of us gained entry, the sole occupant at the time, an elderly typist, fled on our approach. Minutes later police smashed down the door and chucked us in the van. Some weeks later we were found guilty of Forcible Detainer ( supposedly kidnapping the office worker)and sentenced to 100 hours community service. I got a real telling off from Rona and several other Workers Communist League comrades for taking a provocative and pointless action that didn't advance the anti apartheid cause. Trevor Richards has my lasting respect for his anti racist work and I think his book"Dancing on our bones" is mostly very good. That said, there has been enough back patting about what we all did during the tour. Many other issues of oppression and exploitation cry out today and are not being addressed.Don Frankshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17801999410940938418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-50280518260927271002021-07-31T19:50:18.005+12:002021-07-31T19:50:18.005+12:00I protested against apartheid. I was subsequently ...I protested against apartheid. I was subsequently stationed in Southern Africa for my job, and visited several times later. Such a rapid decline in human rights and living standards, except for the tiny, corrupt elites, particularly the ANC. I feel ashamed of what we helped bring into being. People there have never been more oppressed or afraid for their lives. <br /><br />Trev1https://www.blogger.com/profile/00271717267778957672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-62182308019191584382021-07-31T14:27:46.267+12:002021-07-31T14:27:46.267+12:00I am sad that NZ media are commemorating the point...I am sad that NZ media are commemorating the pointing out to South Africa that they have an apartheid spec in their eye, when we now have a log (nay, a forest) of race-based policies in our own eyes. And none of the previous protest leaders are willing to call it out. WWallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14154851267085370864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-29786647046159980202021-07-31T09:52:25.259+12:002021-07-31T09:52:25.259+12:00Mr Richard's comments should be taken as what ...Mr Richard's comments should be taken as what they are - yet another rewrite of history.<br /><br />The 1981 tour protests were not about showing South Africa that New Zealanders were opposed to apartheid (many of us still are) but an attempt by a small group, including racist groups (Black Power etc.) to tell NZers what to do.<br /><br />I doubt, in 1981, you could have filled a small country hall with NZ's apartheid supporters (Now you can fill the majority side of parliament with such, and we have.), the argument was whether you get a better response by showing South Africa their mistake by example or by refusing to play with them.<br /><br />Most adult New Zealanders supported the first method as evidenced by the result of the 1981 election in November that yearTinmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02749937729383913466noreply@blogger.com