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The petite frail form of a young girl dressed to amuse and mock lies on the ground comforted by a local woman. The Bumblebee and her fellow clown pay a high price for their part in ending the battle between protesters and police for control of the streets around Eden Park
John MercerSeptember 12, 1981
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Auckland, New Zealand
Black and white photograph of an injured anti-Springbok tour protester. The protester is dressed as a clown, lying on the ground with a woman assisting her. A photographer stands nearby with a camera.
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- Title: The petite frail form of a young girl dressed to amuse and mock lies on the ground comforted by a local woman. The Bumblebee and her fellow clown pay a high price for their part in ending the battle between protesters and police for control of the streets around Eden Park
- Creator: John Mercer
- Creator Lifespan: b. 1949
- Creator Nationality: New Zealander
- Creator Birth Place: New Plymouth, New Zealand
- Date Created: September 12, 1981
- Location: Mount Eden (Auckland, N.Z.)
- Physical Dimensions: 35 mm frame
- Subject Keywords: Anti-apartheid activists, Discrimination in sports, Mount Eden (Auckland, N.Z.), Protest movements--New Zealand, Eden Park (Auckland, N.Z. : Stadium)
- Type: Negative
- Rights: All rights reserved
- External Link: Auckland Museum: Collections Online
- Support: Polyester
- Wikipedia: Auckland Museum on Wikipedia
- Process: Gelatin silver
- Notes: Inscribed on print verso: BC9-76 Dominion Rd near cnr Onslow Road. Batoned clown and media. Aid from bystander/resident. 12th Sept 1981.;Notes provided by John Mercer June-July 2021: I follow the police lines up Onslow Rd towards Dominion Rd. Arriving onto Dominion Rd I can see that there has been a marked change in the atmosphere. As police commanders begin the process of winding down the action and directing efforts into enabling the protest marshals to collect the protest groups together and begin an orderly withdrawal. The Red Squad form a cordon across Dominion Rd, large numbers of police can seen beyond the line in front of Marlborough St. An ambulance officer is led through the police line by a female officer. I become aware that there is a cluster of people – marshals, media and medics, as well two ambulances to my right. I head there. Two young people are prone on the pavement, one a slight young man – one of the clowns, the other a petite girl dressed bumblebee style. They were clearly badly injured and unconscious. Attending to them are ambulance officers, friends and at least one person who appeared to be a local resident. The media was also observing and recording the scene. At left a videographer records the scene – the petite frail form of a young girl dressed to amuse and mock lies on the ground being comforted by a woman who doesn't seem to be one of the protest contingent but rather appears to be a local resident. She and her fellow clown have paid a high price for ending the battle between protesters and police for control of the streets around Eden Park.
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