Jackson incites wharfies to violence
UPDATED: Broadcaster attempts to explain comments | Talkback host mocks mild-mannered MUNZ members, calls for militant action.
UPDATE: In a statement issued by RadioLive, Willie Jackson has attempted to retreat from his comments made earlier today.
His comments had to be seen in the context of a heated debate, the broadcaster claimed.
"I want to make it clear that when I say 'militant action', I'm talking about taking a stance on an issue in a strong but non-violent manner, in the way that Lucy Lawless took a stance recently with Greenpeace," Mr Jackson said.
"As I said very clearly in today's broadcast, I do not advocate violence."
Ms Lawless and five other Greenpeace protestors were charged with burglary on February 27 after occupying the drilling rig of Shell-contraced vessel Nobel Explorer at Port Taranaki for 72 hours before surrending to police.
RadioLive talkback host Willy Jackson has mocked what he sees as mild mannered Maritime Union members, telling them to get militant on the picket line.
Mr Jackson - a former union organiser and Alliance MP - told listeners this afternoon around 2.15pm "If I was on the picket and somebody drove through the picket and it was my job they were driving through to get, I’d smack them … well, not necessarily hit them but whack their car."
He added, "I’m not telling wharfies they should beat anyone up or kill anyone, but they should occupy offices ... I'm into militant action. Go and occupy. If I was them I'd go and sit on that [Ports of Auckland chairman Richard] Pearson's car, right. I'd sit on his car, occupy his car. Occupy his office. Occupy everywhere. Do what you have to do."
Mr Jackson said, "The point of the picket is to keep people out. Don’t just say, Come on through and have my job."
"In our days if you crossed a picket you got a punch in the head," the RadioLive host said.
"That was 20 years ago, of course. Now days they pat them on the back ... I hope they get aggressive down there on the wharf… if you want to win something, you’ve got to get a bit physical here."
RadioLive is part of the MediaWorks stable.
NBR staff
Tue, 13 Mar 2012
Tue, 13 Mar 2012
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Jackson incites wharfies to violence
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