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Photo essay: How the Posie Parker rally unravelled in Auckland

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RNZ

25 March 2023, 11:01 PM

Photo essay: How the Posie Parker rally unravelled in AucklandPosie Parker and members of her entourage were pelted with a substance resembling tomato sauce as they made their way to the Albert Park rotunda.

Counter-protesters forced British anti-trans activist Posie Parker to abandon her rally in Auckland yesterday.


More than a thousand people, mostly opposing the views of the British activist, threw water, juice and eggs at her as she tried to deliver a speech from the gazebo at Albert Park in the central city.


There were reports that Parker has been seen at Auckland International Airport checking in for an Emirates flight last tonight.


In a statement, the group Speak Up For Women NZ said "Sunday's Let Women Speak gathering in Wellington has been cancelled," although Parker herself has not made a final decision, she told RNZ.


Parker's security staff escorted her out of the park when protesters stormed the gazebo, and she was taken away from the area in a police car.


Protesters said they were not impressed with Parker's Let Women Speak tour.


"This kind of speech in New Zealand just isn't typical and we'd like to show them that. Quiet simply, peacefully, loudly, but we are here," said one of the protesters.


"Hate speech is still hate speech, even if you say the words Women's right over and over again," voiced another.


Parker, who is also known as Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, has drawn fire over supporters at her recent Melbourne event that gave Nazi salutes.


Here is a timeline of what happened at Albert Park Saturday morning, captured by RNZ's Jordan Dunn and Rayssa Almeida.


LGBTQIA+ supporters gathered at Albert Park in protest of British anti-trans activist Saturday morning. Counter-protestors were far more present and visible than Parker's supporters, which appeared to include members of the Action Zealandia group, with the crowd loudly chanting "go home Posie, go home".


Posie Parker films the crowd after appearing at Albert Park. She reportedly had paint, water and egg flung at her, and was pushed and shoved. Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull has since said the situation was shameful.


Counter-protesters flood the gazebo where Parker was expected to make her speech.


Protesters at the rally.


Protesters at the rally.


Opposing views in confrontation at the rally.


Parker and members of her entourage were pelted with a substance resembling tomato sauce as they made their way to the Albert Park rotunda.


Controversial Harry Potter author JK Rowling took to Twitter this morning to brand the protest scenes in Auckland yesterday "repellent".


During a series of Tweets, she said a mob "had assaulted women standing up for their rights".


Parker posted to Twitter and said she was leaving 'the worst place for women she has ever visited'.


The activist also claimed she was a victim of a campaign to assassinate her character, boosted by a "corrupt media populated by vile dishonest cult members".


Her departure means her planned rally for Wellington today will not go ahead.


A local group supporting her visit Speak Up For Women NZ had already announced the scheduled rally today in Wellington had been cancelled due to security concerns.


Auckland Pride rejected the idea the activist had abandoned her Wellington plans due to threats of violence.


The group Tweeted: "There is a narrative quickly taking hold amongst anti-trans groups and individuals that Parker abandoned her event because of violence from our community.


"We reject this narrative. We are of the firm belief that the demonstration of unity, celebration, and acceptance alongside joyous music, chanting, and noise of 5,000 supporters was too loud to overcome and the reason for her departure - and not the actions of any one individual."