A Super 8 film of the "Blockade Demo" in Brisbane on 12th May, 1972. It was called a "Blockade" demo because US President Nixon had recently ordered the blockading (bombing and mining the harbour) of Haiphong which is a major port and third largest city in North Vietnam. A few days before on May 8th, Nixon defended his actions in a televised speech to the nation. On this same day (May 8th), 150 students marched without a permit (i.e. illegally) to central Brisbane. Then on May 10th, there was an earlier "blockade" demo with about 200 protestors marching from the university to the Du Pont offices in Toowong resulting in clashes with police. The next day, there was a molotov cocktail thrown at the building that did a considerable amount of damage (May 11th).

In this film (on May 12th), I believe about 800 marched to the U.S. Consulate resulting in violent clashes with police. I recall being roughed up a couple of times in scuffles while filming. I believe there were 23 arrests.

One placard reads: "Stop The Mad Bomber". This could refer to Du Pont and/or it could be referring to the bombing of the CPA headquarters a few weeks before on April 19th (coinciding with Hitler's birthday).

Courtesy of Peter Gray