Jan 2002, Tiger Woods targeted in Nike protest at Wellington - Aotearoa

Tiger Woods targeted in Nike protest at Wellington - Aotearoa - New Zealand

09 January 2002

A demonstration against golfer Tiger Woods's endorsement of Nike products was held in Wellington this evening. Woods was on his way to a gala charity dinner at the Queens Wharf Events Centre for the Steve Williams Foundation. About 1400 people were expected at the dinner which cost diners just under $5000 for a table of ten.

Grace Millar of Wellington was led away by police after she tried to approach Woods. Tiger Woods is here for the New Zealand golf Open, the tournament will be held in Paraparaumu just north of Wellington.

The protest began with street theatre with an auction where child workers [anti-Nike protestors dressed up as child workers] were sold to the lowest bidder.

"They will be yours to use, abuse and of course ...... make shoes!" said the auctioneer.

The workers were whipped by a suited up corporate wage-slave-Master. Bidding started in the $$ Billions [the net worth of the Nike CEO ] but quickly plummeted. Mr Nike bid the lowest, clean sweeped the bargain bin, and led his future sweatshop workers away.

The protestors wanted to highlight what they saw as the poor working conditions that Nike gave its Third World workers in countries like Bangladesh and Indonesia.

When Tiger Woods arrived, protesters were pulled away by police. Grace Millar of Wellington was led away by police after she tried to approach Woods. About 30 other protesters started chanting "Nike Nike take a Hike!"

Woods was asked by protest spokesman Rob McEwan: "How does it feel to get paid so much when the people who make the clothes you wear get paid $2 a day?" Mr McEwan said the protesters wanted to make the point that Woods was paid $130,000 a day to wear a cap, while the person who made it was paid $2 a day.

While looking slightly curious and apprehensive, Woods attempted to avoid direct eye contact with the protesters.

Wearing a casual grey shirt and dress pants, Woods flew in to Queens Wharf by helicopter where a strong police presence was waiting. The bomb squad had been present earlier and a police helicopter hovered closeby in the Wellington skies

Before his arrival police checked parked cars and moved spectators away from the helicopter landing area.

Police are on high alert after a cyanide-laced letter threatening the tournament was sent to the US Embassy last month. That threat included transportation to the tournament.

source: http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=21031&group=webcast