Two far-right activists who had to be dragged to the dock in Christchurch District Court this morning refused to take part in the court process, read statements from the lawyer's bench, and spoke over and ignored the judge.
Co-owners and presenters of the far-right Counterspin platform, Kelvyn Alp and Hannah Spierer, faced charges for distributing objectionable material and failing to comply with police orders.
They were accused of sharing a version of the full live-stream footage of the Christchurch mosque attacks which killed 51 people.
Outside a crowd of about 60 people turned out to support the pair, along with a small group supporting the Muslim community.
Inside, Alp and Spierer refused to take part in the court process.
Instead, they read statements from the lawyer's bench, spoke over and ignored Judge Jim Large.
Hannah Spierer asked the judge if he was making her an offer to settle the matter and said they were only there under duress.
After a heated back and forth, the pair were eventually pushed into the dock by security and police, and were later taken out by officers when they refused to leave.
A crowd of Counterspin supporters rushed to the pair afterwards, screaming they loved them.
Counterspin co-owners and presenters Hannah Spierer and Kelvyn Alp. Photo: RNZ / Niva Chittock
Both gave long, impassioned speeches to their followers.
"What crime has been committed here? What crime?" Spierer yelled.
"We'll never be gagged, that's just the way it is," Alp added.
Spierer told the group they were fighting for freedom of speech.
"It's really important that we stand because they want you silenced. And they've gone after us as a fishing expedition to find anything they can because Kiwis deserve the right to know."
About a dozen members from Anti-Facist Aotearoa also gathered outside the building, with signs in support of New Zealand's Muslim community.
Anti-Facism Aotearoa protesters outside the Christchurch Courts building. Photo: RNZ / Nathan McKinnon
It was important to show a narrative of aroha in the face of violent Counterspin rhetoric, said Sina Brown-Davis (Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara), a spokesperson for the group.
"They've had free reign in the media really, to promulgate their hatred so it was really important for us to say there is another way. This other way is based on aroha. This other way is based on respect. This other way is based on unity. All those nice values," she said.
Brown-Davis was humbled by the response to their presence today.
"A Muslim woman, her brother was killed in the mosque attacks and she got a lot of heart from our messages and korero about having our Muslim whānau's backs and giving them solidarity. So that actually brought me to tears. And for me ... if we could give her heart, even after losing her brother, it means today was a success."
Hannah Spierer and Kelvyn Alp have been remanded on bail for three weeks, with their next appearance scheduled for 21 September.
