1971: ‘Fight US Imperialism’
‘‘Christchurch witnessed last evening the largest anti-war protest held in the city when an estimated 6000 persons marched in peaceful and orderly fashion to show Sir Keith Holyoake that ‘We want peace – now’,’’ The Press reported on May 1, 1971.
The banners featured such messages as ‘‘Indo-China, US Belsen’’, ‘‘All Foreign Troops out of Vietnam Now’’, ‘‘Fight US Imperialism’’, ‘‘Stop the War Now’’ and simply ‘‘Peace’’.
The assistant secretary of the National Council of Churches, the Rev Ron O’Grady, told the crowd he dreamed of a day when New Zealand would hold its head up as a nation of peace.
‘‘Today thousands were dying needlessly in Indo-China.’’
Before the parade left Latimer Square, Canterbury University Students’ Association president David Caygill urged marchers to ‘‘keep their cool’’ regardless of provocation.
According to The Press there was only one incident that threatened to turn nasty, when a group of Progressive Youth Movement members attempted to burn the New Zealand flag in front of the Citizens’ War Memorial in Cathedral Square.
‘‘This was not planned, or known of, before the march set off, and was quickly foiled by an unorganised group of students from Lincoln College who wrestled the flag away and tried to stamp out the flames.
‘‘There followed considerable scuffling, but order was quickly restored by parade marshals rushing forward, with the police close behind, and ordering the marchers to stay back.’’
The Press noted that ‘‘the parade covered a broad spectrum of political opinion. There were high school students, university students, seamen, Communist Party members, church groups, nuclear disarmers, an occasional nun, and many family groups.’’
Shoppers watched from footpaths and windows, but as one person said: ‘‘The public response is about as indifferent as it is for Hay’s Christmas pageant.’’
160 Years is a series marking the launch of The Press newspaper in Christchurch on May 25, 1861. Between now and the anniversary, The Press will revisit stories from every year of publication.