posted on December 19, 2005 06:52:50 AM new
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - A group of 40 people dressed in Santa Claus costumes, many of them drunk, rampaged through New Zealand's largest city, robbing stores and assaulting security guards, police said Sunday.
The rampage, dubbed ``Santarchy'' by local newspapers, began early Saturday afternoon when the men, wearing ill-fitting Santa costumes, threw beer bottles and urinated on cars from an Auckland overpass, said Auckland Central Police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty.
She said the men then rushed through a central city park, overturning garbage containers, throwing bottles at passing cars and spraying graffiti on buildings.
One man climbed the mooring line of a cruise ship before being ordered down by the captain. Other Santas, objecting when the man was arrested, attacked security staff, Hegarty said.
The remaining Santas entered a downtown convenience store and carried off beer and soft drinks.
``They came in, said 'Merry Christmas' and then helped themselves,'' store owner Changa Manakynda said.
Alex Dyer, a spokesman for the group, said Santarchy was a worldwide movement designed to protest the commercialization of Christmas.
Three people were arrested and charged with drunkenness and disorderly behavior.
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An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
posted on December 19, 2005 07:43:04 AM new
Yes sir, if you want to protest something, violent drunken vandalism is the best way to get your message across!
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Quidquid Latine dictum sit altum sonatur.
posted on December 19, 2005 11:14:57 AM new
If the newspapers reported "Last night 40 drunken vandals ...... and police sent 16 of the them to the hospital...."
