PHOTO: Three people were arrested following the incident. (Source: Supplied)
On Thursday afternoon, three individuals involved in climate protests found themselves in police custody following the vandalism of a car dealership’s shop window in Wellington. The demonstrators, associated with the Restore Passenger Rail group, who had disrupted traffic in the capital over the past three weeks, confessed to using red spray paint to deface the facade of the Gazley Motor Group located on Cambridge Terrace.
Law enforcement was alerted to the situation at approximately 1:40 pm when reports surfaced of individuals spray painting the property and affixing themselves to the sidewalk. A spokesperson for the police stated that upon their arrival, the three individuals involved were apprehended.
James Cockle, a spokesperson for Restore Passenger Rail, explained that their choice of target was the car dealership due to their belief that the car industry opposes sustainable transportation. This marks the third consecutive week in which Restore Passenger Rail has caused disruptions in central Wellington.
As a result of the incident, three supporters, including 64-year-old retired scientist Rosemary Penwarden, who allegedly attempted to attach her hand to the road using cement, have been remanded without bail.
Oliver Gazley, the dealer principal of Gazley Motor Group, recounted that he was inside the store when individuals ran in front of the building, spraying red paint onto the glass windows. He described it as resembling the output of a fire extinguisher.
Gazley approached the protesters to inquire about their actions and found himself being sprayed with paint in the process. He expressed uncertainty about the protesters’ motives, suggesting they might be protesting against light rail or something similar. Gazley emphasized that the dealership supports sustainable transport options and mentioned that the majority of their vehicles are hybrid and electric.
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According to Gazley, the protesters declined to provide an explanation for their actions and proceeded to attempt to glue their hands to the sidewalk. However, their adhesive did not set in time, leading to their subsequent arrest by the police.
As for the financial impact of the protest, Gazley mentioned that the company was still in the process of assessing it and hadn’t yet determined the full extent of the costs involved, as the incident had only recently occurred.
SOURCE: 1NEWS