Guest Post: An update re lawsuit

A guest post by Lucy Rogers: As some readers may recall, I was arrested last November for holding a sign saying “SELECTIVE CONDEMNATION OF GENOCIDE IS EVIL” at a pro-Palestine protest on Queen Street. There was a lot of interest in my case at the time, so I thought readers might appreciate an update. The […]

The post Guest Post: An update re lawsuit first appeared on Kiwiblog.

A guest post by Lucy Rogers:

As some readers may recall, I was arrested last November for holding a sign saying “SELECTIVE CONDEMNATION OF GENOCIDE IS EVIL” at a pro-Palestine protest on Queen Street.

There was a lot of interest in my case at the time, so I thought readers might appreciate an update. The Free Speech Union has this afternoon announced via email dispatch that we are going to file a lawsuit against the police officers who arrested me. The wheels of justice turn slowly and it will be some time before the case is heard in court. A press release will be issued closer to the time and no doubt will receive media attention.

I would like to take the opportunity while I may to respond to one of my detractors. Following my arrest I have continued to counter-protest weekly at the pro-Palestine demonstrations on Queen Street. On one of those occasions Greg Presland (whom I understand is a local politician) took a photo of me holding a sign saying “WHY ARE YOU NOT ALSO PROTESTING HAMAS?” and posted it on Twitter, expressing scepticism about my claim that on the date of my arrest I had just happened to run into a pro-Palestine protest on a smoko break and engage in an impromptu protest.

My reply is thus: yes, I have continued to protest subsequent to my arrest. In fact I have done so every week since mid-December without fail. Although I would probably not have bothered otherwise, I decided that it was important to do so in order to maintain the right to protest in this country. That does not remotely disprove that my actions on the date that I was arrested were on the spur of the moment, and nor would it matter even if I had planned it in advance.

By the way, a number of people asked where I was able to purchase an A2 piece of paper in Auckland CBD for my sign. It was purchased from the Look Sharp store on Victoria Street East.

If you would like to donate to my legal costs, your support is appreciated: https://www.fsu.nz/donation

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