According to Gilbert and Sullivan, a policeman's lot is not a happy one, especially when constabulary's duty is to be done. And we doubt that the officers who attended Aotea Square this morning to evict the remaining officers found it a particularly pleasant experience.
Veteran protestor Penny Bright was among the 20 or so people arrested at Aotea Square today. And 3News happened to have a camera on hand as the arrest was effected; you can watch the action at this link.
There will no doubt be accusations from the occupiers and their mates that the police action was heavy-handed. The allegation of police brutality is an easy one to make, but on the basis of the video evidence there the police showed commendable restraint in dealing with Ms Bright who was assailing them with a shrieked potted summary of her previous police record, and of the ills of corporate greedies. Lesser trained and disciplined people may well have been provoked by the haranguing the police were receiving, but these officers operated firmly and professionally.
And so the occupation of Aotea Square is over, and already work has begun to make good the damage caused to a civic amenity by Ms Bright and her fellow occupiers. And the question must be asked; have they actually achieved anything?
We think not.
4 comments:
Yes - Well done the police.
AND accomplished without the use of 70 officers, the armed offenders squad and two helicopters :)
Quite.
Though perhaps the use of Gunships on Ms Bright may be perhaps .......overlooked?
You mean Ms Blight
I watched your link, but prefer the footage from Breakfast just before 9am this morning. http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast/video - at about 1hr 30mins is her phone interview (or rather screeching) with Corin Dann, followed by footage of her tent being removed with her clinging desperately to it - a most undignified exit, but one which I'm sure she will try to gain mileage from.
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