To protest peacefully is a tenet of New Zealand
democracy. For two weeks the protesters have camped in
the Octagon, and peacefully aired their grievances against
capitalism and corporate greed in a peaceful manner.
As their rights to protest have been acknowledged and
accepted, it is hoped that they will acknowledge the rights
of others. The annual remembrance of Armistice is shortly to
take place in the Octagon. This should be of great
significance to the protesters, as the freedom they enjoy to
protest peacefully, exists because of the many young men and
women who fought and died to maintain this freedom in the
face of violent adversity.
It is not the duty of the police, the council or any
others to forcibly remove the protesters to allow Armistice
remembrance to take place in the Octagon, unimpeded by
current day complainants. It is the respectful duty of the
protest organisers and protesters to remove themselves from
the Octagon.
Lest we forget - or have the protesters already
forgotten?
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