Tour protesters and supporters meet in Square
A wreath in memory of "dead victims of apartheid” was laid at the Citizens’ War Memorial in Christchurch yesterday, coinciding with the start of the “rebel” rugby tour of South Africa. About 40 tour protesters gathered in Cathedral Square at 12.15 p.m., some of them holding an anti-tour banner. They were greeted by an equal number of tour supporters, some of them carrying placards and others equipped with foghorns and a loudhailer. The protesters stood in silence as the bells of Christchurch Cathedral tolled 140 times to mark the deaths of 1400 blacks .killed in South Africa last year. Mrs Jocelyn Armstrong, secretary of the National Council of Churches, said that last year 200 black children were shot dead and another 600 wounded by South African police. About 5000 children were arrested. She called on the New Zealand Rugby Union
council to act in accordance with the prevailing attitude of New Zealand and censure the 30 "rebels.” The tour supporters responded with a blast from a fog-horn when challenged by a veteran anti-tour campaigner and poet, Mr John Summers, to give publicly an “ethical argument” for the tour. A placard carried by one tour supporter said: “The All Blacks have struck a blow for freedom.” The anti-tour rally was organised by Hart Aotearoa. Picture, page 30
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Press, 24 April 1986, Page 5
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223Tour protesters and supporters meet in Square Press, 24 April 1986, Page 5
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