WHAT'S IN A CLENCHED FIST?

 

A young Maori lad found himself being harassed by the police for wearing in public a t-shirt he got for Christmas.
 

THE POLICE have certainly opened a can of worms for themselves by harassing a young twelve-year-old Maori lad for wearing a t-shirt that displayed a clenched fist. It might be the logo of the Kia Kaha Boxing Club the boy belongs to but, say the police, it's also guilty of being associated with the Black Power gang. So, according to the police, displaying it in public, on a t-shirt, is a breach of the new gang patch law.

In a press statement, the police said: 'The T-shirt concerned was determined to be in breach of section 7 of the Gangs Act, due to Black Power insignia on the front and both sleeves. Police believe that the image on the T-shirt seized is clearly a variation of the standard Black Power insignia.'

The problem for the police, which they will inevitably be confronted with, is the clenched fist is a widely used and iconic symbol of protest movements and political organisations throughout the world, including New Zealand. It is generally considered to represent power from below (people power) and the unity that exists between people engaged in a common struggle.

It was first used by the Industrial Workers of the World in 1917. It was probably popularised internationally by the Spanish Civil War of 1936-39. The communist and socialist fighters used it in opposition to the open palm salute adopted by the fascists. (In 2024, it is not illegal to use the fascist salute in New Zealand, although it is in Australia.)

What happens when the clenched fist makes its next appearance? What happens when it can be seen in public on another t-shirt, or on a poster, or a banner or placard? Are the police going to intervene again just because it also happens to be a symbol used by Black Power? Or will they only be harassing Maori who employ the clenched fist?

If the intimidatory behaviour of the police is meant to send a message to everybody else that use of the clenched fist is not OK, then this attempt to suppress its use should be widely resisted by protest movements and political organisations.

The police meantime don't appear to think they have done anything wrong. Although they haven't laid any charges against the poor lad in question, because of his age, they have still referred him to Youth Aid. What a load of police nonsense.