JUDGEMENT DAY FOR @AUCKLANDCITIZEN

Tomorrow, PILLAR heads to court.

This isn't just another legal case. It's our first court case. The first time we've stepped in to fund and fight for someone we believe has had their rights infringed upon.

Back in November, we received a phone call. Silent auditor @AucklandCitizen had just been arrested and charged with assault.

Tomorrow, a judge will decide whether that charge should stand.

Here's what happened.

• @AucklandCitizen attended the "Ban the Ban" rally at Myers Park.

• He was there for one reason: to film. A perfectly lawful activity in a public place.

• Almost immediately, 4-5 event wardens surrounded him, blocked his camera, obstructed his path, and restricted his movement.

• Two police officers watched the entire interaction unfold. They even warned him they were "keeping a close eye" on him.

• For almost 50 minutes he was followed, shoved, and intimidated.

• Then one of the wardens ran downhill and into him in an attempt to stop him filming.

• @AucklandCitizen pushed his attacker away.

• Police tackled him to the ground and arrested him for assault.

That's when we got the call.

The first thing we did was replace the publicly appointed lawyer who was urging him to plead guilty. We brought in an experienced defence lawyer instead.

Police later tried to reduce the charge to avoid a trial. We refused. Why?

Because we're confident in the facts.

The entire incident was captured on camera from two different angles. The police accounts contradict one another. And this case fits a growing pattern of authorities intervening against peaceful individuals while allowing aggressive behaviour from those trying to silence them.

When we launched PILLAR, we said we wanted to do more than comment on the erosion of freedom. We wanted to defend people when it mattered.

Tomorrow, we do exactly that.