Parliament grounds is just across the road from where I usually work. The Parliamentary grounds used to be a peaceful green space in the Wellington city centre. A welcome area of trees and tranquility among office blocks and apartment buildings. This week however our workplace, along with that of many other Wellingtonians, has been closed for safety reasons. The parliamentary lawns have been invaded, tents erected, and cars and other vehicles are parked illegally in the surrounding streets. The anti-mandate protest “Convoy 2022” has come to town.
A few of my workmates had been working in the office up until the recent clash between protesters and police. They had been escorting schoolchildren from their school to the train station seven minutes walk away on the other side of Parliament grounds. The stories of protesters yelling at passers by if they choose to wear a mask, the attempt to drive a car into a police officer, and the blocking of public roads make this protest one that is not peaceful. The manner in which it has been organised, and its loose leadership, means that its central message – opposing the Covid mandates – has been muffled amid the cacophony of various causes ranging from white nationalists, Trump supporters, and anti-vaxxers through to anti-5G campaigners.
The message of the protesters – that they want mandates to end – has been heard and has held national attention for most of the country for longer than any other protest in recent history. The time has now come for the protesters to conclude their attention-seeking protest and take up advocacy using the normal channels of persuasion in a parliamentary democracy. Wellingtonians should be able to enjoy their rights to go to work safely without harassment or interference.
It’s in no one’s interest for this protest to end in bloodshed. The leaders of the protest need to take responsibility now and to show leadership. The government has already indicated that it wants to relax the mandates once this omicron surge is passed. Most of the political parties have stated their desire to see the mandates end. That can be counted as progress by the protesters. The right thing to do now is to pack up, leave and bring this protest to a dignified end.
Concise Comment 