My biggest problem with it would be that it would set a precedent, but it's actually not setting a precedent because the precedent was probably already set last year by the anti-Treaty principles Hikoi, which happened in November.
And now as a result, we are dealing with the predictable problem of letting one protest walk across, which means that we have to let every major protest walk across if they want to.
So here we find ourselves.
But I do think, having said all of that, I do think it is the right thing to do because what it is doing is allowing a controlled protest to take place that will achieve what the protest organizers want, which is big publicity to draw attention to what's happening in Gaza.
Now, a protest across the harbour bridge is surely a better outcome than protesters finding other ways to get the same kind of publicity.
I mean, this week in Spain, look what's happened.
The protesters disrupted the Grand Tour so many times that there is now talk that the race may be abandoned before the final leg is finished on Sunday.
I would much rather just have a march across the harbour Bridge.
A lawyer in Auckland has just been convicted for vandalizing politicians’ electorate offices with red paint, including Christopher Luxon's.
I would rather that she just put down her paint and went for a march across the harbour Bridge.
In a way, the real precedent actually has been set by Sydney where they allowed the protesters to cross their harbour Bridge in August.
Now, really, put yourself in the position of the police.
How could they say no when it had already happened in Sydney?
So I know whenever this finally does happen, it's not going to be popular.
Disruptions never are popular, but all things considered, with the available options, I think it was the right thing to do.
Heather du Plessis-Allan is a journalist and commentator who hosts Newstalk ZB's Drive show HERE - where this article was sourced.
5 comments:
Destiny church was not given approval for a march across the bridge many years back. You think they would be now or is this more of a “it’s ok when the left do it” thing?
The problem with crossing the Auckland harbour bridge as part of a protest, is that it's not really about whats happening in this case, the middle east.
It's about pissing off every other legal user of that bridge.
Protesting on any public road or highway needs to be outlawed.
It's the same renta-mob every time since the Springbok tour of the early 80s.
Same rabble, new placards.
And if it was a legitimate march in support of Israel's action against a terrorist's attack on their people, you can bet your bottom dollar that the police would have been instructed to reject any approval. After all the Government has allowed a less subtle protest by the Green idiots right within our House of Parliament
Just because it has been allowed before doesn’t mean ongoing protests should be allowed. That is a cop out. Sorry Heather, can’t agree.
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