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The Red Squad begins the long charge up Onslow Rd towards the still actively resisting anti-Tour protestors. Onslow Rd is littered with the debris of the street battle – stones, sticks and other objects. This is the last police charge and it culminates in the brutal batoning and assault of two of the protest clowns. This event provides the signal to police and angry protesters alike that things were out of control and had definitively gone too far

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 a line of riot police officers walking up Onslow Road during the anti-Springbok tour protests. The police officers are wearing protective helmets and holding batons. Debris is scattered across the road.

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  • Title: The Red Squad begins the long charge up Onslow Rd towards the still actively resisting anti-Tour protestors. Onslow Rd is littered with the debris of the street battle – stones, sticks and other objects. This is the last police charge and it culminates in the brutal batoning and assault of two of the protest clowns. This event provides the signal to police and angry protesters alike that things were out of control and had definitively gone too far
  • 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, Anti-apartheid movements--New Zealand, New Zealand Police, Racism in sports
  • 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: BC9-64 Onslow Road. 12th Sept 1981. The Red Squad begins the long charge up Onslow Rd towards Dominion Rd and the still actively resisting protest group. At centre frame a second line of Red Squad officers are moving out from the line of drums to join the charge. Onslow Rd is littered with the debris of the street battle – stones, sticks and other objects. This is probably the last police charge. It culminated in the brutal batoning and assault of two of the protest clowns (NB:frames #14,15) and that provided the signal to police and angry protesters alike that things were out of control and had definitively gone too far.
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

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