Auckland Occupy protestors struggle with police at Aotea Square - extended video

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Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:38a.m.

By 3 News online staff

Auckland Council has run out of patience with the Occupy protest in Aotea Square - moving today to end the occupation after 104 days.

Council staff backed by police moved in this morning to clear the square this morning.

There were chaotic scenes as police dragged protestors from their tents, and a crowd formed shouting “shame, shame, shame.”

Among the last of the protestors were well-known activists Penny Bright and Malcolm France, who have been arrested with a few others.

Watch extended footage of the chaotic scenes

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Comments

28 Jan 2012 04:11p.m.

TJ wrote:

I was there watching and some protestor was talking about how great the occupy wall street in London was going.....Wall Street in London? they have no idea what they are even fighting for. They are just a bunch of wannabe anarchists and homeless people 'fighting' for a better benefit, and for a second note, the Police were extremely professional in my opinion with how they dealt with the situation.

28 Jan 2012 02:35p.m.

mary wrote:

they are being attacked by john keys secret police just for being homeless.what a sick world it gets sicker by the day this country im ashamed to be a kiwi .

27 Jan 2012 01:08p.m.

Joe wrote:

What a bunch of idiots. The country is tired of listening to your "1%" ignorant arguments. You are nothing but hippy scum looking for a place to "connect" with others sharing the same belief, hoping that your actions will make the world a better place. These bigots will fight any system in place just so they can call themselves the renegades. Time to flush them out and get on with the real issue of rebuilding our economy.

27 Jan 2012 06:29a.m.

Baza wrote:

As a bystander, what I saw of the police was mostly professional behavior. Some of the security acted as violent thugs - not sure if they were deputized or not, they seemed to be in charge. Protestors were more peaceful than the editing made it seem on TV. Are security allowed to manhandle anyone anytime? I'll be looking into the law a bit. As a high school teacher, if my kids started physical assaulting me, I'd call the police. Big breakdown between council and the red badge hired thugs. One of the council info line staff questioned whether they were a gang or not. I'd refuse to pay rates if those thugs try to act and speak on the side of the council again. WHO is in charge of these joint operations? Thugs, if security, should wear visible ID, or answer civil questions regarding their authority. This occupy business didn't bother me, but the thugs do.

26 Jan 2012 11:19p.m.

HHH wrote:

The same old people are there protesting and for what? They are eternally protesting about something and rode on the “occupy” bandwagon as they thought it would give them the street cred they desperately needed. Most of these have had cushy lives, university “educated” and spent their time soaking up student loans, allowances and subsidised education paid for by the real 99% to sit around protesting.
Many of these people are on benefits, paid for by the 99%. I bet a family on minimum wage, struggling to pay the bills are absolutely thrilled their taxes are going to these low-life’s.

The real 99% are the ones living in slums in Mumbai, Central Africa and starving villagers in North Korea and Zimbabwe. Do we see protesters like this care as much about these people? No. Hypocrites the lot of them – not to mention many of them still believe North Korea isa workers paradise.

Top marks to the police. None of you know what police brutality is. It isn’t this. If it was so oppressive and brutal, why did they allow the TV cameras there to watch it in its entirety?
Get some freaking perspective.

26 Jan 2012 09:08p.m.

Dave wrote:

That's why they call them PIGS!

26 Jan 2012 06:12p.m.

pops wrote:

love you occupy auckland :) keep up the good work. from where ever you are. a tent. a police cell. at home. where ever. we are unstoppable. another world is possible :)

26 Jan 2012 04:22p.m.

Quinn wrote:

Well done police. How you manage not to punch these idiots in the face is a testament to your training and the rights we so clearly have as Kiwis. Feel free to protest but sleeping in a public park is just ugly and you should be removed.

26 Jan 2012 03:04p.m.

sam wrote:

I will never forget as a 16 year old getting arressted and taken back to the police station and getting slapped around by two police officers , two fully grown men slapping a kid around behind closed doors. People in NZ think the police here are saints they are NOT , did anyone see the clip on campbell live last night about the young guy getting physically abused by the cops , happens alot . Try complaining to the powers that be and gets nowhere . I realise not all are bad , but ive learnt to never trust them and want nothing to do with them .
By the way , for all the rednecks who probably think im a crim , im not and just fell into the wrong crowd , years ago , getting charged with a minor offence should not mean you get slapped around as well , illegal as it is for them to do that , they get away with it.

26 Jan 2012 02:59p.m.

BD wrote:

this is just not right brutalization for the sake of a stupid bylaw is just not right