Howard receives unexpected welcome at UQ

BY MARCE CAMERON

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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From GLW issue 508