Musical weapons applied against New Zealand protesters

Web Desk — New Zealand authorities have adopted the music strategy to disperse the protesters sitting outside the parliament.

The demonstrators, who are against the COVID-19 vaccine mandates, were initially ‘attacked’ with Barry Manilow’s greatest hits – plus the 1990s dance tune Macarena – all played in a loop from one of parliament’s loudspeakers. Later the musical weapon of James Blunt was used for the same purpose.

The musical strategy remained useless as the protesters seemed undeterred and responded by singing their own songs and dancing in the rain.

The protests in New Zealand began when a convoy of vehicles arrived at Wellington’s parliament buildings, adopting the name Convoy For Freedom and blocking some of the city’s streets.

The protesters inspired by similar rallies in parts of Canada, gathered outside the parliament as their list of grievances has expanded to include general dissatisfaction with Jacinda Ardern’s government.

Authorities turned to music after the use of water sprinklers failed to dislodge the protesters but the new methodolgy too failed to produce the expected result.

Strict lockdowns and border closures have kept COVID-19 death and infection rates very low in New Zealand but there has been anger about rules requiring widespread use of vaccine passes.