The Police make another unlawful arrest?
As of 12pm today, silent auditor and online commentator, @AucklandCitizen is scrambling to secure a public defender.
Why? Because he is being hauled before the courts for quietly standing by and attempting to film a public meeting in a public park. In cases like this, the process becomes the punishment. Fines, legal fees, and court costs mean innocent people can lose their fight simply because they lack the resources to see it through.
His story is below. Would you read it and consider supporting his case?
Ever heard of a silent audit?
Maybe not, but you have likely seen footage from one. The term refers to individuals who quietly film public officials and public spaces to test public access rights and monitor how authorities respond.
People are free to film in public. Events, public servants, even other members of the public. So why was one man arrested for filming the rally in support of puberty blockers at Meyers Park on Sunday the 7th of December?
Footage obtained by PILLAR shows activists crowding and blocking the view of the silent auditor, @AucklandCitizen, as he tries to capture the opening address. They form a visual wall with kaffiyehs and pro trans banners.
"Just keep it tight," one says as they surround him.
@AucklandCitizen backs away and tries to disengage. He still does not speak a word. The only time he uses his voice in the entire 47 minute altercation is to tell those closing in on him to back up. Yet the group determined to stop him continues to move with him. They follow him as he looks for space. For more than forty minutes activists press him, obstruct him, push him, and block his ability to move freely.
At around the twenty five minute mark he walks toward a group of nearby police officers who have been watching the situation unfold. They watch him approach, along with the group surrounding him. What follows is a troubling example of how police have been operating in recent years. Lessons from Albert Park appear to have been forgotten.
Officer one: "Just be careful. We do not want a breach of the peace, and we do not want to intervene, but we will if we need to in order to keep the peace. I hope you understand that."
Officer two: "I have seen you push them a bit, so be really careful. This will be your last warning. Do not cross that line."
Officer one: "Please do not make us intervene, but if we have to keep the peace, we will. Thank you."
1: A blockade of kaffiyehs and pro trans banners; 2: even the Police were obstructed; 3: Officer one who warned against breaching the peace; Officer two who alleged he witness pushing.
Keep in mind, all interactions up to this point are captured on camera. No words. No aggression. No physical confrontation initiated by him. So why did officer two claim he saw @AucklandCitizen push someone?
Was he mistaken, or laying the groundwork to justify an intervention? I cannot read minds, so I will not assume intent, but based on similar cases it is getting harder to give the benefit of the doubt.
For the next twenty minutes @AucklandCitizen keeps moving away from the activists. At one point he is forced off the main pathway and into shrubs just to avoid them. A third officer arrives and positions himself beside the others.
After forty minutes of back and forth, while being filmed, pushed, blocked, and chased in full view of the police, @AucklandCitizen finally manages to slip past the blockade and capture a single wide shot of the crowd. He is immediately swarmed again. As they close in there is bumping and shoving before the camera is knocked to the ground.
Who knocked it down? The police, as they grabbed and apprehended him. He was cuffed and led away.
1: one of @AucklandCitizen many minders; 2: “Filming for me but not for thee” as a member of the blockage films back; 3: where banners and scarfs werent enough hands and bodies were thrown at @AucklandCitizen too; 4: This member of the group rushes @AucklandCitizen and throws themself before him.
So what happens now?
@AucklandCitizen is set to appear before a judge on Friday the 12th of December. Yes, this Friday. Justice can be remarkably swift depending on whose version of justice is being enforced.
When activists can intimidate citizens, obstruct lawful activity, and break basic norms in front of police without consequence, we have lost our sense of justice as a nation.
And when police stand idle while one man is mobbed and boxed in by a group of activists, only moving to arrest him for breaching the peace, we must once again ask what is going on inside our police force.
It is another sign that police misconduct and rot cannot be pinned on a handful of bad apples. When frontline officers feel free to act like this, it is no surprise the same attitudes rise with them through the ranks.
Arian, together we can fight police abuse of power, the infringement of rights by the state, and ensure Kiwis are free to speak, think, and live in line with the freedoms and values that make our civil society great!
We will stand with @AucklandCitizen and fight to ensure he is not crushed by a system that claims to protect all equally. Arian, will you stand with us?
Click the button below for details in raising support for his legal case.
