I fully support the sense of unity on Saturday that meant that ordinary chch people from different walks of life, passionate about a variety of causes and community concerns - all walked together in protest against the recent raids and arrests. The intentions of the day were peaceful, and about standing together, rather than apart from each other in suspicion. The attack by police on the freedom of activists around the country unites a variety of different people and their communities in concern - the unity of heartfelt concern was shown in Otautahi in the variety of people who showed up on Saturday to stand up, in conservative little old chch and take to the streets. Okay, so having the Green Party, anarchists, happy valley activists, tino rangatiratanga supporters, local representation from Tuhoe, concerned mums, dads, kids, anti-globalisation activists, older activists, maori, pakeha and tauiwi - all together walking around the central city is unusual, and not necessarily a completely comfortable bunch of alliances - but it was largely positive and may the mutual support continue in these times of political and police terrorisation of our friends and communities.