Five protesters arrested over 'heavy-handed' police action

[struggle4progress]

Five more people were arrested yesterday in a running battle over "heavy-handed" police action.

The five protesters – four women and a man – turned up at Auckland District Court to support a fellow activist who was one of four arrested at the weekend at an anti-war demonstration in Queen St, Auckland.

Before the court hearing about 20 people marched from Aotea Square with a mock coffin to symbolise the "death of democracy" from alleged police brutality, which they claim was meted out at the weekend.

They were met by a similar number of police, and the five were arrested trying to enter a courtroom in support of Simon Aart Oosterman, who claims to have been assaulted on Saturday by an officer while held in a patrol car. <snip>

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3224552a12855,00.html

[seriousstan]

1. Enter a courtroom?

"the protesters were arrested after being asked to leave by court staff for trying to carry small banners into the courtroom."

I got fined for chewing gum in an American courtroom! These people were looking for a way to go to jail and they succeeded. Way to go. You win.