Anti-tour, anti-nuclear protests

Press, 22 September 1980, Page 1

Anti-tour, anti-nuclear protests

About 500 flower carrying, chanting demonstrators marched to the United States base at Christchurch Airport yesterday to protest against the visit of the nuclear-powered warship Truxtun.

The protest went without incident, unlike another demonstration, against the Springbok tour, outside Lancaster Park on Saturday. A man was arrested for alleged disorderly behaviour after eggs had been thrown at about 40 protesters distributing pamphlets and holding placards while people queued to see the match between Canterbury and Counties. Some of the protesters were hit by the eggs.

The Truxtun demonstration started with prayers at Bumside Park, led by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Christchurch (the Most Rev. B. P. Ashby). The marchers then walked the 2km to the airport. “We were thrilled at the numbers that turned up and the gentle and friendly manner of the march,” said one of the organisers, the Rev. Terry Wall, of the Catholic Peace Group. “The peace movement is taking off again and I think there are a great number of New Zealanders who are worried about the very real threat nuclear weapons pose to our country,” he said. Speakers addressed the protesters on the anti-nu-clear movement, New Zealand’s role in A.N.Z.U.S., and the exploitation of New Zealand by foreign powers.

Combined peace groups will hold a street theatre in Cathedral Square at lunchtime today. The arms' race, the Truxtun, and the A.N.Z.U.S. alliance will be the themes of sketches organised by the group.