Protesters are overjoyed at the cancellation of an alt-right event in Auckland, saying it had nothing to do with freedom of speech.
Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux's speaking gig at the Powerstation on Friday night was called off at the last minute, to the delight of 1000 protesters who gathered in Auckland's Aotea Square.
Tamaki Anti-Fascist Action spokeswoman Sina Brown-Davis says the protest turned into a celebration.
"There was just joy seeing people... all coming together in peace and unity at the rally. It was just a really confident, beautiful thing."
Ms Davis says the Canadian speakers unwittingly helped orchestrate a beautiful night.
"If I'm really honest, the two fascists… helped make this happen because Auckland made it really clear tonight that those views aren't right."
The pair, Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux, said they were furious their event was cancelled, blaming "far-left terrorism".
A counter-protest is planned for midday on Saturday in Aotea Square, arguing for the pair's freedom of speech. As of Saturday morning, only one person had confirmed on the event's Facebook page they will be attending.
Organiser Warren Knott says it's to support free speech for Ms Southern, Mr Molyneux and Tommy Robinson, a far-right activist in the UK who was recently released from jail.
"Just turn up to show your support, you're not required to say anything, no shouting, this is not a protest, and you're welcome to tape your mouth if you wish," the event page reads, with information on where to buy British flags.
Ms Brown-Davis said supporters of Ms Southern and Mr Molyneux don't really care about freedom of speech.
"They've been quite clever framing this as a free speech issue, which they use as a smokescreen to introduce their politics of hate and division."
Ms Southern and Mr Molyneux spoke to Newshub's Patrick Gower shortly after their show was cancelled. Mr Gower said it was a "bizarre" interview.
"It was a very rapid-fire attack-like method from them, a lot of intellectual nit-picking and not a lot of us getting anywhere. One interview I won't forget for a while, but not for any good reasons."
The pair claimed polls showed 70 percent of Kiwis wanted them to be allowed to speak. It's not clear what polls they were referring to, or if the polling was scientific.
Their agent, Caolan Robertson, tweeted "Hope New Zealand enjoys shariah" after the event was cancelled.
Newshub.
