Threats of violence changes planned Wellington College protests

  • 10/03/2017
Wellington College
Wellington College (Facebook)

A planned protest against rape culture, to be held on Monday outside Wellington College, has had to move elsewhere after threats of violence.

It comes after a week in which two Wellington College boys posted comments on Facebook glorifying sexual assault, and four St Patrick's College, Silverstream Year 9 students sexually harassed female staff members.

On a closed Facebook group page, one Wellington College student recently wrote: "If you don't take advantage of a drunk girl, you're not a true WC boy."

Following public outrage and news of the protest outside the school, the boy who made the post has apologised and asked for calm.

"It was a stupid thing for me and ... to do, and we never knew it would get so out of hand the way it has," he told NZME.

Despite this, more posts have been made in the same Facebook group.

One post, referring to the planned protest, urged students to "bring your cars and run them all over." .

The post had attracted several likes, and one comment suggested livestreaming it.

On another Facebook page, one of the young women behind the planned protest has said: "bc the school doesn't want to support us it might be best to just participate in the larger protest walk after school Monday [sic]."

"It will be marching throughout Wellington, lots of people will see it and it will garner attention, without creating difficulty for our schools admin and fem/amnesty clubs."

Wellington College headmaster Roger Moses said in a statement: "The comments made about young women in those posts were deplorable and appalling and do not reflect Wellington College values in any way,"

"I would urge you to take the time to talk to your son/s about the meaning of consent and respect and about the risks they take posting comments on social media."

Newshub.