By Jenny Duncan.

It is time. The weight of my silence has become too great. I have to speak out.

I watched in horror at what happened in parliament grounds on Wednesday March 2nd. Like most of us, I absolutely abhor violence. I saw a group of people with face coverings setting fires and throwing dangerous projectiles at police, destroying property and causing immeasurable reputational harm. As the police troll through endless videos to identify perpetrators, I hope all these people meet with the full consequences of their actions.-

There was another group there, also with face coverings, equally as violent and causing immeasurably more harm. Hundreds of them. They had riot gear, shields, pepper spray, batons and guns. And they used them. This group arrived before dawn as protestors slept. Shields already in hand. And their violence began. Destroying property, damaging vehicles, going over the top of protestors as they woke and built their line.

The violence against the people was a horror to watch. Hours of it. Old men beaten with shields and fists, women knocked to the ground and set upon. Pepper spray indiscriminately used on people as they calmly and peacefully held their line. For hours. All property in their path destroyed. Reviewing these endless videos will identify the individual perpetrators and connect them to victims.

I hope all these members of the NZ police meet with the full consequences of their actions. My trust in them is sorely shaken.

It was not until later in the day that protesters were caught between these two ugly groups and that is when the riot began. When shields were justified. When fires where lit and more property destroyed.

If you feel aggrieved at my comments, then there is a high probability you did not watch the day unfold. I did.

Hours of it, on live feed. To my regret. I’ve paid for it dearly since with the impact on my wellbeing. There is also a high probability that you never visited the protest village. I did. On day 10. A peaceful Friday. Why did I go? Because I’d seen so much love and care within the village and it was at total variance to what the media was telling us. I went to observe for myself. It was amazing. The result, a further erosion of trust in mainstream media.

And the few days following, people I know and respected, disparaged the protestors as if they are a rabble, miscreants, conspiracy theorists disseminating disinformation, ignorant, filthy, and more.

I saw doctors and nurses. Farmers and gardeners. Midwives, child-carers, lawyers, teachers, therapists and Hari Krishna. Musicians and community leaders. Social workers and office workers. Ministers of the church, plumbers, builders and more. People who had lost jobs because they would not vax. People who had been harmed or had family harmed by the vax. Business owners who had their businesses destroyed. Those who are vaxxed and do not support the mandates. The biggest theme throughout – End the Mandates. On this I totally agree.

They cause massive harm and division, and don’t slow the spread of covid. Many countries, like Denmark, have walked a more caring path. It is possible.

How did it come to this? This dreadful place we now find NZ in. It can only happen if we each individually allow it, as we harden our hearts and allow division and derision. As we allow the media to instill fear in our hearts to override our love and compassion for others. It will be over soon. This crazy covid time. And then we must look each other in the face again.

Let’s start now. Let’s demand open debate and truthful, balanced reporting. Care for each other with compassion. Forgive the harmful words shared, fix what we’ve broken and unite – rebuild our communities to be something we’re proud of.

I made my decision early on. Every fibre of my soul said No – Do not vax. I followed my instincts. It’s my birth right in a country called New Zealand to make medical decisions for myself. I am exercising that right. I do all the things necessary to look after myself and those around me. I respect those who have made a different choice.

And more importantly. Bad things happen because good people stand by and watch. Too afraid of the consequences. Everyone who has spoken against the mandates and vax have been vilified. I would hope that you all understand my position and for those who don’t, feel free to discuss with me. The one thing I know we can all agree on is wanting unity and peace and an end to the division.

Jenny Duncan is the Deputy Mayor of Whanganui.

Published first in River City Press. Published here with permission.