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Battle is joined': the Red Squad retreats back towards Marlborough St after a baton charge up Onslow Rd towards Dominion Rd that is driven back by a hail of stones, rocks, sticks and other missiles

John MercerSeptember 12, 1981

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Auckland, New Zealand

Black and white photograph of riot police officers and anti-Springbok tour protesters standing on Onslow Road. Debris is scattered on the road, including large metal drums.

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  • Title: Battle is joined': the Red Squad retreats back towards Marlborough St after a baton charge up Onslow Rd towards Dominion Rd that is driven back by a hail of stones, rocks, sticks and other missiles
  • 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: New Zealand Police, Racism in sports, Rugby football--Political aspects--New Zealand, Protest movements., Protest movements--New Zealand--Auckland
  • Type: Negative
  • Rights: All rights reserved
  • External Link: Auckland Museum: Collections Online
  • Support: Polyester
  • Wikipedia: Auckland Museum on Wikipedia
  • Process: Gelatin silver
  • Notes: There was a welter of action raging back and forth along Onslow Rd – a street battle reminiscent of the fierce protests at Brixton and Toxteth in the UK a few previously. I moved towards the action, in retrospect, a bit blithely. A lot of 'stuff' can be seen on the road and pavements – including sticks, possibly fence palings, rocks pulled from the typically Auckland volcanic fences that line the local streets and 40 gallon drums rolled towards the police line. In this shot the Red Squad is retreating back towards Marlborough St after a baton charge up Onslow Rd towards Dominion Rd. At the right hand side is Cromwell St.
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

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