Title: With all our strength, An Account of the Anti-Tour Movement in Christchurch 1981
Photographer(s): Various photographers
Writer(s): Juliet Morris, Des Casey
Designer(s):
Publisher(s): Black Cat, Christchurch, New Zealand
Year: 1982
Print run:
Language(s): English
Pages: 134
Size: 18,5 x 24,5 cm
Binding: Softcover
Edition:
Print:
Nation(s) and year(s) of Protest: New Zealand, 1981
ISBN:
An account of the Anti-Tour movement in Christchurch, 1981. Anti-apartheid protest of the Springbok rugby team tour. The story from the protesters' view, many of whom were charged with criminal disorder, or injured while resisting police orders to disperse.
1981 was an historic year in the history of the New Zealand protest movement. The anti-Springbok tour demonstrations of that year not only saw record numbers protesting on the streets throughout the country, but also saw a level of militancy rarely witnessed in this country. Over a period of months, commencing well before the Springbok team arrived in the country, the anti-apartheid movement organised hundreds of rallies, organisational and educational meetings and other actions, intended to stop the tour and highlight the illegitimacy of the South African government.
This massive mobilisation of protesters was only possible because the movement had a strategy and a democratic mode of organisation that gave people the confidence to be involved at the level that they felt was appropriate for them. This is an essential element in any attempt to mobilize large numbers of people one that we would do well to learn from if we are serious about stopping the current war and achieving revolutionary change.