Anti-Government protest to be met with 'Love Community: Hate Fascism' counter-protest

"We stand for inclusivity, good dance moves, aroha and solidarity with minorities."
"We stand for inclusivity, good dance moves, aroha and solidarity with minorities." Photo credit: Newshub

The Freedom and Rights Coalition (FARC) anti-Government protest in Wellington will be met with a counter-protest on Tuesday. 

The counter-protest, titled 'Love Community: Hate Fascism', will be led by the Pōneke Anti-Fascist Coalition. It has more than 600 people interested and 247 people signalling they're attending on the Facebook event. 

One of the organisers Laura Drew said in a statement the counter-protest is a peaceful and non-confrontational rally aimed at standing up against "hateful rhetoric" in the capital.

"We stand for inclusivity, good dance moves, aroha and solidarity with minorities."

With the rapid spread of misinformation and the rise of "violent speech in the far right", the group are encouraging anyone who is concerned to join their calls. 

"Join us tomorrow to show we love community and hate fascism."

Drew added the group do not want to see a repeat of the protest earlier this year which came to a fiery and violent end. 

"The people behind this convoy are the same hate groups we saw occupying and burning Parliament earlier this year," she said.

"We saw how they disrespected everyone from mana whenua to school children. We don’t want a repeat of any of it."

Both protest groups will likely cross paths. The counter-protest group plans to meet at the Wellington Cenotaph outside Parliament grounds at 10am. 

The anti-Government protest, which is expected to see around 1000 people attend, plans to meet at Civic Square before marching through Wellington and onto the grounds of Parliament.