May 29, 2020
Police tactics oppressive by nature says hikoi head
The organiser of several protest hikoi in the far north says New Zealand police need to check they are not on the same path as their American counterparts.
There have been violent protests in the past couple of days in major US cities over the death of 46-year-old George Floyd, who was filmed for more than 8 minutes pleading with the Minneapolis police officer who was leaning on his neck.
Reuben Taipari says it can be seen as a logical consequence of policing that aims to intimidate and oppress minority populations.
"If you're doing a hikoi they are in your face trying to create some sort of antagonism so they can trigger, they can spark, they can put into effect the training they have been put through in their academies and to ensure our people understand we are oppressed, to understand they are in control and they need those scenarios to occur," he says.
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