Peace Activists arrested for expressing opinion on Palestine
From: Auckland Peace Action
Date: Friday, 25 May 2018
"Two peace activists have been arrested and charged by Police for simply expressing their view that the film Ben Gurion
is Israeli propaganda to whitewash Israel's crimes in Palestine," said Auckland Peace Action member Valerie Morse.
"Last night, the film screened at the Q Theatre, and activist staged a small protest inside as the film began."
"While the activists certainly did expect that they would be thrown out of the theatre, the decision by police to arrest
and prosecute two people is totally out of line. It is an attempt to silence critics of Israel and repress freedom of
speech. Charging people with committing a crime for staging a small non-violent peace protest sends the message that
dissent won't be tolerated."
"This film is subject to the international cultural boycott of Israel, which is a non-violent global campaign to force
change from the Israeli state. The screening in Auckland comes just days after Israeli forces opened fire on
Palestinians who are protesting for their human rights, murdering over a hundred people, and injuring thousands."
"Just as New Zealanders stood up against racist South Africa during the years of apartheid, we are standing up today
against racist Israel and the system of apartheid there. We will not be silenced by these arrests, and will return on
Sunday for another action at the second screening of the film."
ENDS