BRISBANE — On the evening of September 5, Prime Minister John Howard visited the University of Queensland to give a talk about leadership qualities in today's world. However, he was met by 350 angry students who were totally disillusioned with his own leadership over a number of different issues.

Organised in only a day and a half, the protest action was reflective of how the federal Coalition government has alienated and radicalised many students over education “reform”, mandatory detention of asylum seekers and support for the impending US invasion of Iraq.

Student protesters converged on St Leo's College where Howard was addressing an elite men's college dinner and set up a picket, which they maintained for more than two hours. The protesters' determination to maintain the picket was fuelled by verbal abuse from a very small group of drunk Young Liberal supporters.

When Howard left the college, the protesters blocked the exit in order to force him to listen to what they had to say. Police assaulted protesters and created a guard around Howard's car. Anyone who came too close to the car in order to exercise their democratic right of free speech, was either arrested, pushed to the ground or dragged away.

Surrounded by police trying to clear a path, Mr Howard's car edged forward at a snail's pace for several hundred metres in what became a running battle with the demonstrators.

Fifteen protesters were arrested. Four were charged with obstructing police, six with disorderly conduct, and five with breaching the peace.

From Green Left Weekly, September 11, 2002.
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