Library protest leader outstays welcome

Mayor Bob Harvey faces protesters outside the council chamber yesterday. Picture / Greg Bowker

A peaceful protest against a library closure turned sour last night when an organiser struggled with police officers as they tried to remove him from the Waitakere City Council chamber.

One of the officers who forced Citizens Against Privatisation spokesman Meredydd Barrar from the chamber was Waitakere Police Inspector Mark O'Connor.

He was at the monthly council meeting with acting Waitakere-North Shore-Rodney District commander Inspector Janet Hope to talk about crime in the city.

Mr Barrar had earlier led more than 100 adults and children on a march from the Te Atatu South Public Library to hold a rally outside the council building.

He persuaded Mayor Bob Harvey to change his mind about letting him address councillors in a pre-meeting open public forum.

But after the protesters took seats Mr Barrar became angry that Mr Harvey and council officers were there but none of the 13 councillors.

"This is the most disgusting thing I have ever seen," said Mr Barrar.

"Where are our elected representatives?"

He said he would not talk to empty seats and when Councillor Ewen Gilmour came and took his seat, Mr Barrar thanked him for "having the balls to be here".

He told Mr Harvey: "We are asking for respect - we are the people and we are here and you are here because we put you here."

When Mr Gilmour offered to fetch any other councillors in the building, Mr Barrar said he would give councillors 30 seconds to get there.

As some councillors arrived, Mr Harvey told Mr Barrar he had to take the speaker's podium and start because his allotted 15 minutes' talk was nearly over.

When the time was up, Inspector O'Connor spoke to Mr Barrar and when he would not leave, seized him by the arm and with the help of a sergeant propelled him from the chamber and arrested him.

Mr Barrar, who is a staff member at Oaklynn Special School, was charged with disorderly behaviour.

Mr Harvey said the council had voted to close the library and considered it had given the community fair warning and the issue was closed.