New Zealand Police Halts Single Protester At Anti-Lockdown Demonstration
An Instagram account encouraged people to join the protest.
An anti-lockdown protest consisting of a solitary Auckland citizen was stopped by local police. Expecting a multitude of protesters, officers were monitoring Queens Street in central Auckland on Friday. Eventually just one person showed up.
Officials obtained knowledge about a potential mass gathering to protest against Covid-19 restrictions through social media. An Instagram account aimed to mobilize people “who see the bigger picture” to join the protest, Newshub reported.
The post further blamed the government for “destroying the economy” and “destroying jobs”, even though the country’s economy has been more stable than expected with unemployment rates dropping to 4 percent in the June 2021 quarter.
Police were on high alert after multiple protests occurred throughout the country. Last week about 100 people gathered outside the TVNZ buildings on Queen Street in Auckland to protest the restrictions. Four people were arrested as a result of breaching the Health Act notice.
Also in the city of Tauranga four people were arrested at a protest outside a local police station.
The New Zealand Bill of Rights Act states that citizens have the right to gather and protest with others. However, residents are urged to comply with alert level four restrictions, specifying that all gatherings are canceled and requiring people to stay at home unless personal movement is essential.
Restrictions have been tightened once more as a result of the country grappling with an outbreak of the Delta variant.
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