PROTEST LEADER: A Maori warrior leads a protest against the Civil Union bill out of Civic Square in Wellington today.
Posted on 08/22/2004 5:55:12 PM PDT by shaggy eel
About 5000 protesters left Wellington's Civic Square this morning on a Destiny Church-organised march against proposed legislation giving gay relationships legal recognition.
The number was well below the estimated 10,000 protesters signalled by the church last week.
Two counter-protests organised by Victoria University's UniQ gay group and the Against Conservative Fundamentalism group planned to reach Parliament around the same time as the church group.
The church group is protesting the Civil Union and Relationships (Statutory References) bills aimed at removing discrimination from the law based on marital status and sexual orientation.
Richard Lewis, leader of the church's political party, Destiny NZ, maintains the bills would undermine family values.
Police have warned motorists to stay away from the route of the marchers along Lambton Quay to Parliament grounds.
Marchers, led by a group of Maori warriors, continually chanted "Enough is enough".
A woman selling black Destiny Church T-shirts said she had run out of stock.
There were many schoolchildren and babies in prams in the crowd. One mother, Claire Story, with a five-month-old baby, said she felt compelled to take part in the rally.
"I'm just really here to support families and to support life."
She was against the Civil Union Bill. "I just really believe in the sanctity of marriage between a husband and a wife."
Associate Justice Minister David Benson-Pope, who is piloting the bills through Parliament, has criticised the church for having children participate at a similar rally in Auckland on August 7.
Another protester Joseph Kotuku, 67, from Auckland, said homosexuality was immoral and gays should not be allowed to marry.
He was confident the bill would not go ahead.
"We're positive about this message. It's for the nation, it's for the next generation."
A youth Destiny Church band from Otara, South Auckland, entertained and pumped up the crowd before the departure from Civic Square.
The rival protest groups faced off when they reached Parliament grounds but there was no trouble.
PROTEST LEADER: A Maori warrior leads a protest against the Civil Union bill out of Civic Square in Wellington today.
ping
He looks like a cousin of mine.
"Kiwis get it right" ping!
BTTT
ping
Why am I laughing?
OTOH, Kiwi press might not be any better. Notice how no numbers were given for these groups, pre-estimates or in-situ estimates. There could have been as few as two people in the counter-protests -- and one can infer that not much more than that showed up.
,,, I'm glad you can laugh. It's the middle of winter and I froze out there.
Those of us in the Northern hemisphere often forget. What was the temperature there today?
Those of us in the Northern hemisphere often forget. What was the temperature today?
Sounds like it's swarming at the Hive in Wellington.
Keep in mind that 5000 in Wellington, during August is comparable to 5000 in Milwaukee in February.
Thats right, it's still winter time down under.
,,, I marched from civic centre to Parliament and there were scattered groups of theatrical and very unhealty looking gay rights groups... typically young people. I suspect the older ones die of aids or simply don't want to be in the limelight. Along the way a few suits had taken the time to type in "bigots" on their computer screens and print it out on their office printers and that was the extent of opposition on Willis Street and Lambton Quay. This will be one of the deciding issues next election.
,,, less than 10C. I'll have to check.
,,, additionally, the lead time for this event was very short.
I think it's the expression on his face....looks like he had more than enough. lol
,,,,,, wore your grass skirt to the protest march, Eh?
,,, you were right, I did look rather fetching in it. Your grass skirt southseas fantasy shots are on their way to you! :)
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