Police have strongly condemned a Destiny Church-linked protest which disrupted a children’s event hosted by a drag king at an Auckland library yesterday and confirmed that allegations of assault were being investigated.
Destiny Church’s Man Up and Legacy groups stormed Auckland’s Te Atatū Community Centre and library to protest a children’s science show hosted by drag artist Hugo Grrrl.
Around 30 young children and adults were barricaded inside during the incident, RNZ reports. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown described protester behaviour as “thuggery”.
Hours later, protesters broke through police barricades at the city’s Rainbow Parade and held up festivities with a haka on Ponsonby Rd.
Protesters stormed a drag king event in Te Atatū and halted the Auckland Rainbow Parade for 10 minutes yesterday. (Source: 1News)
Inspector Simon Walker said the group’s actions at the Te Atatū Community Centre and library caused “considerable distress and concern” among children, library staff and visitors.
“This protest crossed a line. Freedom of speech and the right to protest are fundamental principles of a free and democratic society under the rule of law, but nobody, especially children, should ever be made to feel unsafe.”
Walker said he was proud of the frontline staff who responded with “haste and professionalism” to resolve a “dynamic and emotive situation” safely and quickly.
“I also want to acknowledge the staff at the library who did their utmost to de-escalate the situation and keep their visitors safe.
“Police were made aware of allegations of assault during this incident.”
No arrests have been made but inquiries are in their early stages.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was asked about the incidents at a media conference earlier on Sunday.
Luxon said: “We respect people’s right to free speech, we respect people’s rights to peaceful protest, [but] they went too far.
“This is a country that values diversity and is well known for doing so and New Zealand is a much better place because of the diversity that’s in it.”
Asked if he believed it was a matter for the police, Luxon said “I don’t know how it can be any clearer than my message I just said.”
Tamaki responds
Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki told 1News he thought Luxon had gone too far away from what he believed the public of New Zealand want and expect from the Prime Minister.
“You got Luxon saying to me, the Prime Minister, that I’ve gone too far. What gone too far in protecting my children? I doubt it. What I’m saying here is that they haven’t gone far enough. This Government needs to have some balls and begin to deal with the problem that we have in the rainbow pride community.
“I think, you know, Luxon needs to follow the lead of Donald Trump. He needs to legislate two genders only. They need to get rid of the puberty blockers. They need to ban the councils from spending any of our taxpayers money on a minority groups pushing of the sexual perversion, I think that’s off.”
Tamaki also told 1News he could be the Elon Musk to Luxon’s Donald Trump.
“Invite me in to get National out of the poo that they’re in, and I guarantee you I’ll get National polling high again and get that party doing what it should be doing.”
‘Totally unacceptable’ – Auckland Mayor
Meanwhile, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said actions by Destiny Church protesters were “totally unacceptable” and described the behaviour on show as “thuggery”.
“While I respect freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest, to enter a council library facility that is there for all our communities to use and intimidate council staff, volunteers and community members going about their business, is completely out of line. There is absolutely no place for thuggery,” he said yesterday night.
“Auckland is home to 1.7 million people from all walks of life and I value the diversity of the communities that make up our great city. The kind of behaviour that was on display today is disgraceful and unacceptable.”
‘You are just a boy’ – Hipkins
Labour leader Chris Hipkins also took to social media to condemn Brian Tamaki.
“Real men don’t barricade women and children. Real men don’t threaten and intimidate. Real men don’t preach hate. Real men do show respect, compassion and love.”
“Real men are comfortable enough in who they are to celebrate the diversity of others. Brian Tamaki, you are just a boy,” he said in a tweet.
