The Star: February 08, 2024

Thursday February 8 2024 The Star
• By Rayssa Almeida
AN ACTIVIST organisation is
accusing the police of brutality
after arrests were made at a
protest in Lyttelton.
Approximately 60 people took
part in the pro-Palestine protest
at the port on Tuesday afternoon,
and police said four people were
arrested about 1pm after blocking
traffic.
Protesters had blocked a tunnel
and poured a liquid onto the
road, a police spokesperson said.
Charges were being considered.
Palestine Solidarity Network
secretary Neil Scott issued a
statement saying members were
“repulsed” by police actions at
the protest, which he labelled
“disgusting”.
“The police arrested seven
people and pepper sprayed many,
including senior citizens protesting
peacefully,” Scott said.
Scott said the group was 17
weeks into protests calling for
a ceasefire in Palestine and for
the government to take a stance
against Israel’s actions in Palestine.
Police “aggression” toward
their activities had been increasing
during that time, he said, and
the group wanted an investigation
into officers actions at the
latest protest.
Protest organiser Ihorangi
Reweti-Peters said police used
brute force to stop protesters
from blocking the road.
“Police were sort of rarking
people up and saying ‘come on
then’, and ‘do it’.”
“Everyone was sprayed – pepper
sprayed, and then the people
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Protestors accuse police of
aggression after arrests
were arrested.”
Three of those arrested had
been released by early Tuesday
evening, Reweti-Peters said.
Acting Superintendent Craig
McKay said police respected the
lawful right to protest.
“But we draw a line when
the safety of those involved,
the public and our staff are put
at risk and thoroughfares are
obstructed.
“A handful of people failed to
comply with police requests to
ACTIVISM: Police arrested
pro-Palestine protesters,
and accused the group of
blocking traffic in Lyttelton
on Tuesday. PHOTOS: RNZ
move and following a number of
warnings, staff utilised tactical
options available to us.”
He said four men aged 39,
57, 37 and 70 were taken into
custody and were charged with
obstructing a public place,
resisting police and assaulting
police.
The 39-year-old was due to
appear in the district court on
Friday, and the remaining three
are due to appear on Monday.
– RNZ
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