Sun 22 Feb 2015 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
The director of the Auckland Pride Parade has expressed disappointment that a protest group “chose to use the Auckland Pride Parade as an opportunity to broadcast their message”. Three anti-Corrections protestors made their way onto the parade route and unfurled a banner reading ‘no pride in prisons’ in front of a police officer on a motorbike, as police were marching. One woman suffered a fractured arm in an ensuing struggle with security staff, as the protestors resisted being moved off the parade route. Pride Parade Director Richard Taki says not only did the protestors make the parade unsafe for themselves, but also for the 2,000 participants. “Four thousand volunteer hours went into making the 2015 parade and this group has made a mockery of their time, commitment and love for the rainbow community,” Taki says. “We are a nation known for our freedom of speech, and as a proud married gay man, I fully support this,” he says. “However the Auckland Pride Parade is about our Pride as a community and as a nation. It is about us being supportive to each other. “The protest was dangerous and callous, however, it did not stop us having the most successful pride parade to date.” The protest group claim they were victims of brutality and intend to lay a complaint with the Independent Police Conduct Authority. Police say they are investigating, and “will review footage taken of the incident as part of the enquiry.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 22nd February 2015 - 8:38am