Light brigade

I was relieved to read John Roughan’s column (Weekend Herald, June 5), where he challenged us to think about white privilege. This stemmed from the very light treatment of the predominantly white cohort of cyclists who broke through a police cordon and occupied part of the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

These illegal acts have had little by way of condemnation from politicians, the media or those commentators from “middle” New Zealand who normally have a great deal to say about law and order. This surely is a moment for those of us who belong to the white middle class to reflect on how the systems in our society are biased to our advantage and what might be done to ensure the presence and voices of all communities in our country are equitably recognised and heard. Susan Healy, New Lynn.