Students and activist groups today protested a planned lecture by the USA’s Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, Dr. Bonnie Jenkins, at the Victoria University of Wellington (VUW).
Simultaneously, a peaceful protest was undertaken inside the lecture hall. An activist began the lecture by calling for “a moment of silence for all the Palestinians killed by the US-funded genocide in Gaza”. He then spoke up about the weapons that the US was sending to Gaza, before eventually being ejected from the lecture theatre. Shortly after, another activist stood up and said “Karetao o te Kāwana kakīwhero!” (“Puppets of this redneck government.”) quoting the women’s Super Rugby Aupiki team Hurricanes Poua’s revamped haka. “Mai te awa ki te moana (From the river to the sea), free free Palestine!”
Dr. Jenkins was ushered away for the second time, and subsequently a couple of activists took to speaking and playing an informative video about how AUKUS represents US imperialism. When organisers later came in to announce that Dr. Jenkins will not be continuing with her lecture, chants of “Free, free Palestine!” filled the room.
“For five months, Aotearoa has been calling for our government to do more to stop the genocide in Gaza. And for years, we have been calling our governments to stand against Israel’s occupation of Palestine,” says Samira Zaiton, a Justice for Palestine organiser. “We are now at the juncture of tightening relations with settler colonies who will only destroy more lives, more homes and more lands and waters. We want no part in this. We want no part in AUKUS.”
Jenkins’ lecture was organised by Victoria University’s Centre for Strategic Studies, and claimed to address “security challenges in the 21st century”. Valerie Morse, an organiser with Peace Action Wellington, says: “Experts on foreign policy and regional diplomacy have done careful research on the disastrous consequences of involving ourselves with AUKUS. Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa is not a nuclear testing ground and sacrifice zone for US wars.”
Videos of the peaceful protest actions can be found in this Google drive.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15Dj4_mIsfO5B9Za2g9W_YmU396hmSpEk
About Justice for Palestine: Justice for Palestine is a human rights organisation working in Aotearoa to promote justice, peace and freedom for the Palestinian people. They organise meetings, rallies and cultural events, and work with others, to raise awareness about the Palestinian cause and to advance Palestinian human rights.
About Student Justice for Palestine – Pōneke (SJP): SJP is a solidarity group comprising students and academics based in universities across Pōneke (Wellington), calling for an end to the Zionist occupation of Palestine.
About Peace Action Wellington: Peace Action Wellington is a group based in Wellington, New Zealand that works for peace and justice throughout the world, with a special focus on the New Zealand government’s involvement in international affairs.
About Stop AUKUS: Stop AUKUS is a Wellington-based group who believes true security comes from diplomacy and a strong independent foreign policy, not participation in warmongering.
