Unjust policing ‘happens here too’
Thousands crowd to rallies across NZ in reaction to death of African American
‘It happens here too,” says Rob Gaitau, about why he joined several thousand others for the Auckland rally against police brutality after African American George Floyd died last week.
Gaitau, of Samoan heritage, among an estimated 4000 people gathered in central Auckland yesterday afternoon to attend the Black Lives Matter March for Solidarity, is talking about racism, about the way New Zealand’s Maori and Pasifika communities are disproportionately affected by policing, much as the African American community is in the United States.
The West Aucklander prefers to go grocery shopping with his Pa¯keha¯ wife than alone, because that way he faces less tension, fewer stares, and less clutching of belongings.
He brought his two young boys along to Aotea Square for yesterday’s protest — “No justice, no peace,” read the sign in 5-year-old Moses’ arms as he sat atop his proud father’s shoulders, with 10-year-old Noah close by.
“We can’t just sit at home when things like this happen, because it might happen here too,” Gaitau said.
Similar demonstrations took place in Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, joining protests across the globe and which have taken over dozens of US cities.
In the capital one man tied himself to the fence of the US Embassy after a vigil attended by about 500 people.
The Auckland crowd heard speakers on the “militarisation of the New Zealand police”, and its disproportionate effect on Maori and Pacific Island communities.
Maori are nearly eight times more likely than Pakeha to face police force. Between 2009-2019, two-thirds of those shot by NZ police were Maori or Pasifika.
Mazbou Q, a musician and organiser, said what was going on in the US was not just about Floyd, but the ongoing persecution of the black community. “The same white supremacy which has led to disproportionate killings of black people in the US exists here in New Zealand.”
Mixed martial arts star Israel Adesenya spoke of discrimination he experienced in some of Auckland’s upmarket suburbs. “They’re trying to militarise the New Zealand police. Let’s squash that s**t straight away.”
The crowd fell silent for a minute to honour Floyd, and but as they marched down Queen St chants of “No justice, no peace!” and “Black lives matter” erupted.
Police presence was minimal, with a sole patrol car at the front of the protest, helping clear the way.
Many protesters held banners and signs saying “Justice for Floyd”, and “ArmsDownNZ”, opposing the police trial of armed response teams.
A three-generation bubble — Carly Frances, with her daughters and mokopuna — was among them.
“It is important we take a stand on this, because we don’t want our police to ever be armed here,” Frances said.
Despite constant calls from organisers for social distancing, people were close due to the crowd’s size.
Images of the crowded protest drew criticism, including from Act leader David Seymour who said it was an “insult” to every New Zealander who followed alert level 2 restrictions, which included a 100-person limit on gatherings. Police declined to comment. Black Lives Matter Solidarity Auckland organiser Shalene Williams said they did their best to encourage social distancing, and for people to wear masks. They were “blown away” at the response overall, she said.
“There was so much love and support, from police as well, meeting our intention of having a peaceful and respectful march.
“It is a testament to the trauma everyone is feeling and how important the issue is.
“People will no longer be silenced.”
The past week has seen news coverage taken over by the death of George Floyd, a black man in the United States who died at the hands of police who arrested him on suspicion of forgery.
An officer has been charged with third-degree murder and three others are under investigation.
I’ve followed the news with varying degrees of heartbreak and pure rage, which is why, when New Zealand Police’s Armed Response Teams (ARTs) returned to headlines at the weekend, I was dumbfounded.
A six-month trial of armed officers started in October, with then-Police Commissioner Mike Bush stating the teams would be focused on crimes that caused “significant risk”.
The trial ended in April. It has just been revealed the majority of situations the ARTs were deployed for were not “high risk” situations but rather, routine traffic stops.
They were also used for bail checks, burglar alarms, and other basic inquiries. Less than 3 per cent of incidents involved firearms and the majority of those apprehended were unarmed.
Importantly, half of those apprehended were Ma¯ori.
According to criminal justice group People Against Prisons Aotearoa, three people were killed during the NZ Police’s six-month trial
— “a New Zealander every two months”. They say this is a “drastic escalation in killings by police, which threatens to become the new normal”.
And that’s exactly my concern. I’m not comparing the police involved to those who killed George Floyd. Not at all.
My concern is that, even if every aspect of the situation pointed toward lethal force being necessary beyond argument, the underlying problem is what happens when you start giving people that kind of power?
In the recent cases I’ve seen in the news, namely those of Hitesh Lal, Anthony John Fane and Graeme Warren, all of the men threatened police with a weapon.
One of them fired directly at police. I can only imagine what a terrifying situation that is to be in. But does it deserve a death sentence? No. Does anything? I don’t think so. But that’s a whole other conversation.
The point is, how many times have we seen black men and boys like Philandro Castile and Tamir Rice gunned down in America because police “thought he had a weapon”, or people like Trayvon Martin and Ahmaud Arbery killed because they looked a certain way?
At worst, it’s a convenient excuse for murder. At best, it’s the result of deep-rooted racism ensuring people of colour the world over are seen as dangerous and, in this day and age, most likely armed. Or they’re in a gang and are prone to violence. Or they’re on drugs and unpredictable.
The idea that people — particularly men — of colour are not to be trusted is not an American notion.
It is a lie from as far back as the enslavement of African people and the colonisation of the “savage” Ma¯ori and other indigenous peoples, because that’s how the violence against them was justified then.
Last year, New Zealand made international headlines and garnered worldwide acclaim for our Government’s swift move to ban guns in New Zealand following the mosque killings of March 15. Now we’re trying to arm our police? I don’t know how that makes sense.
It sends a message that guns are necessary for protection — a message the NRA is founded on and which buoys the US’ second amendment.
And you’d better believe that applies to criminals too. Once they see police arming up, they will move to match them because they have to “protect” themselves, too.
It’s a vicious, idiotic cycle and benefits no one.
Now, let me reiterate: I am not saying the police who shot those men during the ART trial were racist murderers. I’m simply saying people are dying with the guns we already have in play, and when you start giving guns to more people with varied backgrounds, beliefs and degrees of training, you open the door to a slippery slope which could one day see us following in America’s bloody footsteps.
Ma¯ori and Pasifika are already wildly over-represented in the criminal justice system. We are nearly six times more likely to come into contact with police than Pa¯keha¯ and seven times more likely to be charged with a crime when we do.
Ma¯ori are also nearly eight times more likely than Pa¯keha¯ to be on the receiving end of police force.
Just imagine adding more guns to that mix.
Of course, to buy into this whole thing being problematic, you first have to buy into the fact that racism exists, that it exists at this level, and that it exists in New Zealand — and far too many people are completely unwilling to accept that.
I’ve seen the news comments sections. I’ve seen the Facebook comments and tweets and heard the listeners on talkback radio. I know there are a lot of people who think brown people are garbage who need to be brought to heel. I’ve heard people say punishments aren’t harsh enough and “they should be shot”.
I’ve been followed around a store. I’ve had a car accident automatically blamed on me despite all evidence pointing to the Pa¯keha¯ driver of the other car being at fault. I’ve had ambulance workers question whether I’m making up injuries for pity. I’ve had peers question whether my success was due to merit or race.
I’ve had people email me hate speech and death threats because I dare to write about race in New Zealand and blackness in America.
The same attitudes that killed George Floyd exist here, just not nearly as openly. And that’s the bit that scares me. Will any of the people we choose to arm, secretly, or even unconsciously, harbour that hatred and distrust?
Not only have police here already been shown to disproportionately target and use force on Ma¯ori and Pasifika, but in the past 10 years, our people made up two-thirds of all people shot by police.
Let’s not add more guns to that equation.