We Must Preserve Our Rights and Freedoms

Regardless of your stance on the protest at Parliament, what we witnessed yesterday should disturb everyone who supports democracy.

The MSM slant and their blatant lies were on full display for all to see.

Voices for Freedom was represented by thousands on Parliament grounds for the duration of the 23 days of protest and was supported by hundreds of thousands more from afar.

At Parliament, we witnessed, spoke with, and listened to Kiwis who were present in the moment, genuine, kind-hearted, caring and most of all incredibly generous. 

People came from all walks of life, spanned across all ages, and were united in their desire to be heard and to engage in dialogue. 

The people were pro-choice. Some there had opted to take the vaccine and others hadn’t. All there supported the right to choose free from coercion and threats. 

For many, it has been a long two years seeking to have their objections to the vaccine be heard. During this time they have been victimised, bullied and labelled as conspiracy theorists. 

Doctors who have spoken out have been deregistered.

Allopathic medicine has been denied.

Herbal extracts have been made prescription only.

If something hasn’t fitted into the MSM narrative it has been swiftly labelled as “fake news”.

The protest wasn’t and isn’t about “anti” or “pro”. It’s about preserving our rights and freedoms. 

The protesters at the Beehive were 99.9% peaceful. We know, we were there. 

There was, for many, a tangible sense of hope.

Hope that finally they would be seen and they would be heard. 

It felt like the New Zealand of old with everyone knowing their neighbours, speaking with each other and looking after one another. 

Many described a special vibe at the Beehive that was unique, precious and life-changing.

Many journeyed not once, not twice, but three times, some driving the length of the north or south islands over three weekends to join the stand. 

There was hope that we wouldn’t be treated anymore as second class citizens and that a new kind of society was possible.

And yes, there were some people who were upset. If you’d lost everything you might be too. 

If your partner had a life-threatening injury you might be upset too.

If your loved one had died you might be upset too.

If you had been ignored when seeking medical advice after an adverse reaction and told to go home and that it was all stress, you might be upset too.

And if you had injuries, and refuse to have another one for fear of more adverse affects, and therefore lost your job, you too might be upset.

Despite this upset and pain, almost everyone remained peaceful. When there was violence directed towards the police it was quickly dealt with swiftly by other protesters. 

The New Zealand public needs to realise that the protesters in the main were just like them – everyday Kiwis.

Those angry at the end were absolutely not reflective of the bulk of the people present at Parliament.

Even when the police moved in forcefully on the crowd with indiscriminate use of pepper spray, riot shields, water cannons and violence, the vast majority of people remained calm. 

They supported one another, helped each other up off the ground, administered milk to the faces of those pepper-sprayed, and comforted those who were overcome with the emotion of the brutality of it all. 

Yet still, the police advanced. Brutally.

And still, the Government refused to speak with the people – choosing violence over discourse. 

This should never be the way, ever.

But that was yesterday. Today is a new day and where we go to from here is up to us. 

Let’s take the beauty of the unity and community created in Wellington over the last few weeks back with us all to our neighbourhoods, build the support systems organically, truly connect with those around us and be the change we want to see in the world. 

Let’s rise up. Let’s focus on what we want to see happen. Because what we focus on grows. Let’s rebuild free.

Now is the time.