Nine arrested in Parliament grounds

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33066, 6 November 1972, Page 1

Nine arrested in Parliament grounds

(New Zealand Press Association; WELLINGTON, November 5. Nine persons, including the political candidate, Mickey Mouse, were arrested this afternoon after a Guy F awkes party in the grounds of Parliament became violent.

The nine have been arrested on charges of disorderly behaviour, assault, and theft of a policeman’s helmet.

A police spokesman said that Mickey Mouse was arrested early tonight and charged with offensive behaviour and inciting disorder. Mickey Mouse is alleged to have spat in a policeman’s face.

The meeting was held by the Mad Hatter Tea Party, led by Mickey Mouse, and an unnamed group led by "Jesus Christ.”

It was held to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day and what was believed to be marijuana was handed around.

Mickey Mouse and his party are contesting the General Election in Palmerston North.

“Jesus Christ,” a Wellington man, attempted to stand in Island Bay but his nomination was refused. The protest began peacefully but about 3 p.m. the crowd of about 200 moved forward, throwing fireworks against a small squad of police on the steps. At the base of the steps a fight started between police and protesters as the 200 young people tried to get up to the main entrance of Parliament.

Helmets lost During the first scuffle several policemen lost their helmets and a number of people suffered bums from exploding firecrackers. Two people, one a young girl, were dragged away by policemen to cars outside the General Assembly Library. Minutes after the two were taken away the protesters rushed towards what they claimed were a group of plainclothes policemen standing by the gardens. Another fight ensued, and another two were taken away.

One protester, a tall student, was bleeding from the nose and the forehead as he

was being carried by four policemen. At the bottom of the steps leading up to the library a fight broke out and the student lost his trousers. Police allowed him to put them back on, and then dragged him up to the police cars. As police tried to drive the two cars with the arrested people in them, protesters attempted to stop the cars by standing in front of them. After about 10 minutes the cars succeeded in driving away. A police spokesman said

later that one girl would be charged with the theft of a policeman’s helmet, two persons with assault of policemen and another with wilful damage to police equipment. The protesters, now numbering about 250, moved back to Parliament and sat on the steps. The police did not try to prevent them. They were then addressed by Mickey Mouse and “Jesus Christ.”

During the address a man and a girl handed out what appeared to be marijuana. It was given to a number of people, including several plainclothes policemen. Police said tonight that the material would be analysed by the D.S.I.R. to determine if it was a narcotic. Church service After 15 minutes on the steps the group crossed the road to St Paul’s Cathedral where a service was being conducted. Among the guests was the Governor-General (Sir Denis Blundell). Sir Denis Blundell and Lady Blundell were just getting into their car as the protesters arrived. The car drove through them at about 10 miles an hour without incident.

About 100 protesters were then invited into the church by a minister and for about 20 minutes sang songs about marijuana and L.S.D. while church members looked on.

Later most of the protesters marched to the office of the “Dominion” and a group of about 30 invaded the fifth-floor reporters’ room.

The group, including “Jesus Christ” and a group protesting about rents, harangued reporters and subeditors for about 20 minutes.