Several thousand people took to the streets of Auckland today as part of an International Day Of Action called to protest against the invasion and occupation of Iraq by USA-UK-Australian soldiers.

Outrage was hurled at the USA-fed war coverage, and pro-US bias, emanating from New Zealand’s state broadcaster TVNZ.

The protest action snaked its way through inner Auckland streets, flanked by a large Police contingent determined to guard Mobil Oil, Television New Zealand, and the “Consulates of the Coalition Of Killers’ – namely the United States, United Kingdom and Australian consulates in Auckland.

The protest was often led with shouts of anti-Bush chants from a strong Iraqi presence. The protest included people of all ages, races and religions united in their opposition to the killing of innocents resulting from USA President George W Bush’s decision to launch an unsanctioned war against Iraq.

Thousands shouted shame and disgrace at Television New Zealand. Protest organizers from Global Peace and Justice Auckland crossed a Police cordon to deliver a letter of disgust to TVNZ demanding that it cease broadcasting its one sided US-bent version of this war and that it endeavor to seek a real and honest account of atrocities being dealt to Iraqi innocents by coalition troops.

John Minto of Global Peace and Justice Auckland [GPJA] said: “We have been increasingly angered at TVNZ coverage of the US invasion of Iraq. We are quite used to TVNZ - along with much of the world's media - displaying a "US centric" view of the world in its coverage of international affairs.

“However since the invasion began the coverage has slipped from merely poor quality, unbalanced reporting to the spreading of unashamed, blatant "pro-war" propaganda on behalf of the US. We are deeply disgusted at the extent to which TVNZ has - through its news service - become a mouthpiece and visual portal for an unrelenting stream of bald US/UK propaganda and blatant lies,” John Minto said.

Shortly after, one man from within a black ‘Remuera Tractor’ [SUV] hurled abuse at protesters while he waited in halted traffic as the protest marched onward.

Later, New Zealand’s busiest retail and commerce district ground to a halt as the protest made its way to Queen Street where shouts of shame created a thunderous echo about the lanes and allies.

A heavy police guard lined Queen Street fronting the British Consulate, Quay Street’s Australian Consulate and Customs Street’s United States Consulate buildings.

Shoppers curiously watched on, and shopkeepers peered from balconies and doorways.

The United States flag [The Shroud of Shame] was burnt outside the US Consulate while the New Zealand Police passively looked on.

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See Also... Scoop Photo-Essay Reportage - Thousands of people took to the streets of Auckland, and hundreds more in Wellington, Dunedin and other centres today as part of an International Day Of Action…
- Photo-Essay 1: NZ Marches Against US War Machine
- Photo-Essay 2: NZ Marches Against US War Machine
- Photo-Essay 3: NZ Marches Against US War Machine

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