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Protesters aim to put Hillary Clinton on the back foot

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Wed, 13 Jan 2010 9:26p.m.

John Minto

John Minto

By Dan Satherley

Veteran protester John Minto, fresh from demonstrating against the presence of an Israeli tennis player at the ASB Classic tournament in Auckland, now has his sights set on a much bigger fish – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Ms Clinton will be arriving in New Zealand on Friday for talks with Prime Minister John Key, aimed at strengthening the relationship between the two countries.

Mr Minto's group, Global Peace and Justice Auckland (GPJA), accuses Ms Clinton of being complicit in torture, waging war for oil and "overthrowing democratically-elected governments".

"Since the [November 2008] election, President Obama and his Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have overseen a continuation of the war in Iraq, trebling of military forces in Afghanistan, uncritical support for the Israeli regime, the overthrow of a democratically elected President in Honduras and the scuttling of any serious plan to confront global warming," Mr Minto said in a statement this evening.

GPJA is organising a march to be held this Saturday, starting at the US consulate in Customs St East and heading to the Auckland Town Hall, where Ms Clinton is scheduled to be meeting invited guests.

Protesters are being urged to bring along old shoes - women's shoes, in particular.

"Throwing shoes has become an international symbol of protest against US policy in Afghanistan and Iraq," says Mr Minto. "This may become a high-heel protest."

Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zeidi shot to fame in late 2008 after infamously hulring a pair of Doc Martens at then US president George W Bush. Other world leaders have since been targeted in similar attacks.

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Comments

14 Jan 2010 07:31p.m.

V wrote:

Hills will calm john with some recitations from her thesis!.

14 Jan 2010 06:49p.m.

Bill wrote:

What the hell is John Minto going to do now that Hilary isn't coming? I wish she had of come actually, and if Minto and his idiots got too close they would see what Security surrounds her, maybe that would have been the last we would have seen of this idiot. But really, why is the News Media in this country giving this F**kwit any attention at all.

14 Jan 2010 05:55p.m.

Alex wrote:

seriously why do people hate john minto so much

14 Jan 2010 04:47p.m.

John Lower Hutt wrote:

I'm organising a protest. If you're interested bring your old socks to throw and John Minto and his mob.

14 Jan 2010 04:24p.m.

Veteran wrote:

Ah Minto!
Where would we be without the slightly deranged rantings of a sad old man, who has achieved exactly nothing in his life.
To his credit however, he has amused us for years with his truly esoteric reasoning and curiously selective "conscience".
Like all chardonnay socialists (from ex PMs' down) he seems to have had a "sense of humour" lobotomy.
This must be a requirement for socialism, sandal knitters and the rent a protest crowd, as you never see them smile or have a good time.

14 Jan 2010 03:20p.m.

Tine wrote:

The Iraqi journalist went to prison - what happens to Minto and his mini-me bunch... oh that's right - a buckled megaphone. Their "international" world view is so narrow and disjointed I feel sorry for the children he brain-washes- I mean - teaches. He can do show and tell with the megaphone.

14 Jan 2010 02:52p.m.

Tine wrote:

cynical haha! I agree. They shouldn't cancel their gathering. While they are all together it's a chance for them to do some sponsored fundraising for the victims. These tragic disasters transcend politics, so for once they can try and redress the imbalance in a productive way.

14 Jan 2010 01:01p.m.

Alex wrote:

"Overthrowing democratic governments?"

Re-read the article. The democratically elected president of Honduras.

14 Jan 2010 12:52p.m.

Jim wrote:

I wish I had a job like John's. Has he ever worked?
Fern, throwing shoes is not a protest and be careful for any retaliatory action as she will be well protected!!!

14 Jan 2010 09:46a.m.

cynical wrote:

Newsflash - protest cancelled - Minto and cohorts on the way to Haiti to take control of the relief effort. They have sent a message to the US president that the US is not required to help - the champions of peace have got it under control. They have requested that vital equipment, such as megaphones, be released from the NZ Police, otherwise they have to go empty handed.