By Jessica Rowe
Activist John Minto is aware that his protests can be unpopular – especially to sports enthusiasts eager to watch the tennis without having their conscience pricked. But he believes they were successful anyway.
Mr Minto led a protest against Israel’s treatment of Palestine at the ASB Classic in Auckland, targeting Israeli tennis player Shahar Peer.
During the protest, seven activists were arrested - including Mr Minto.
“People have attacked us right, left and centre. The real important thing is that there is an opinion shift and a greater understanding of the role that Israel is playing,” he says.
“I think people are seeing the Middle East through different eyes in New Zealand today.
“We've been really pleased at the way people have said; ‘I don’t agree with Israeli policies, but you shouldn’t be picking on Shahar Peer’.
“Now that to us is huge progress, because a few years ago people would have said; ‘I support Shahar peer. I support Israel, and you people are just a bunch of anti-Semitic wankers’.”
Mr Minto says he understands how people could be offended by his method of protest, however he believes the cause is more important.
“Well I think it is difficult for her, other players, and spectators when there are protests - we accept that. But I think all of those things pale into insignificance when we look at what happens to Palestinian people in the West bank and in Gaza,” he says.
“I contrast the way she is able to travel the world with what happens to Palestinian sports people - who suffer tremendous trouble in getting into international competition.”
Mr Minto says sport is a highly effective and comprehensive boycotting tool.
“Sport is the one thing which everybody has some kind of emotional reaction to,” he says.
“Sport is always at the sharp end of boycotts and that is why there has been such an intense reaction in New Zealand.”
This is not the first time the veteran activist has used sport as a boycotting tool. In 1981, he lead the anti-apartheid protests during the Springbok tour.
“If we were talking about the Israeli Ambassador arriving in Wellington and there were active demonstrations, we wouldn’t see anywhere near the engagement that the public has had in this debate,” he says.
Mr Minto makes a good point. Within hours of the story appearing on 3news.co.nz, it was the second most commented story on the site – beaten only by people debating who was at fault in the sinking of the anti-whaling boat Ady Gil.
Many of the commenters disagreed with Mr Minto’s target – Shahar Peer, a young tennis player with no public political affiliations or direct involvement in the Israel/Palestine conflict.
There has been a huge amount of blogging and public debate on this issue because sport is something that gets New Zealander’s talking.
“At the end of the day, this is not about Shahar Peer and it’s not about John Minto. We are kind of players in something that is far more important,” he says.
“The far more important thing this week has been; what understanding do New Zealanders have about the relationship between Palestinians and Israel.”
“I think we have moved quite a long way in four days to challenge and confront and force people to think about that issue. And I think to be frank we are winning.”
Mr Minto was arrested on Thursday for protesting outside the ASB Classic. As police took him away he carried a small sign saying ‘censored’ over his mouth.
It was the first time he had been arrested in 18 years.
“I was really surprised to be arrested yesterday because I don’t think we were breaching the peace and I was taken by surprise by what the police did. It is the first time I have been arrested in 18 years and I think we will win the case in court case easily,” he says.
“But at the end of the day, it is no big hassle. I already have a criminal record from protest activity and this will just add another one to that.”
You can watch the full interview with John Minto here
3 News