John Minto arrested

Press, 4 July 1985, Page 8

John Minto arrested

PA Auckland Hart’s leader, John Minto, was arrested outside Eden Park last evening during violent clashes between the police and protesters round a burning effigy of an All Black. Mr Minto was charged with assaulting a police officer and obstructing the police after one of a series of skirmishes as constables with extinguishers broke through a circle of protesters to put out the fire. He was allowed bail and

will appear in the District Court today. Another protester was arrested and charged with using threatening language and resisting the police. About 70 protesters had assembled outside the park at 7.15 p.m. to demonstrate against the naming earlier in the evening of the All Black team to tour South Africa. Skirmishes between the police and protesters started when 20 constables flanked the group to move them off the park’s carpark, where one woman set alight a South African flag. Protesters then ringed the burning cardboard effigy, dressed as an All Black, on a grass verge outside the park. Five times protesters lit the effigy. Each time police with extinguishers moved in, often spraying protesters

as they attempted to put out the fire. Punches were traded as the police broke through the lines. Eventually the effigy was reduced to ashes. As the protesters dispersed Mr Minto was led away by two constables. After the hour-long confrontation Susan Nixon, a spokeswoman for No Tour ’B5, which organised the demonstration, said the police had violently overreacted to what was intended to be a peaceful, symbolic protest. Protesters had suffered cuts and bruises, she said, and toxic fumes had been sprayed in their faces. The head of the police operation at the park, Inspector Bob Skilton, said the effigy burning went beyond the bounds of reasonable protest. The police, he said, feared the fire could have spread and caused danger.