“A woman’s arm was broken by Police at the peaceful protest against the Weapons Expo on Day Two of action this past Thursday. The Police thuggishly pushed her over onto the concrete, and fractured her radius and ulna,” said Auckland Peace Action member Valerie Morse.

“Kerry Tankard of Hamilton is suffering from ongoing pain and limited use of her hand for ordinary tasks – tying her shoes and zipping up her coat for example.”

“The Police saw fit to violate the basic fundamental rights of ordinary people to protest – to stand on a public footpath and express their opposition to war profiteering. Instead they violently pushed people in an effort to escort these war mongers to their Weapons Expo.”

“The broken arm was not the only injury over the course of the peace actions against the Weapons Expo. Police also caused the concussion of another woman potentially causing serious ongoing pain issues.”

“Police budgeted some $250,000 and 180 police for this event. That is a small army. It was deployed to act as private security guards for weapons dealers and that is what they did.”

“We need to understand that major weapons companies don’t just do business with the military. The NZ Police also have an ongoing contract with global arms dealer Lockheed Martin. The so-called "security and defence" industry has infected our society and public services, and promulgates a dangerous narrative of fear and insecurity that is good for their war business. ”

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