Pro-life and disability groups held peaceful protest actions against the movie Me Before You which started screening in New Zealand cinemas on June 15.
The protest actions led by disabled persons were held in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Christchurch and Wellington.
The chairwoman of the Auckland Council Disability Strategic Advisory Panel, Dr Huhana Hickey, called the movie a “little bit of porn”.
“It is nothing more than giving entertainment to non-disabled persons, to tell them what tragic pathetic little lives we have . . . and that we could not possibly want to live with
disabilities,” she said.
Dr Hickey, also a research fellow in Taupua Waiora Centre for Māori Health Research, said moviegoers would learn nothing new from the movie.
“It does nothing for the disabled community. We are already ostracised, isolated, abused, excluded and have got barriers front, left and centre. Do we need to add to it some kind of
fantasy just so we can entertain and make money?” she asked.
Euthanasia-Free NZ executive director Renee Joubert said they supported the protest actions because they were concerned by the movie’s messages.
“The male character is very rich. He can live at home. He has care, lots of opportunities and support that most disabled people can only dream of, but he still chose death,” explained Ms Joubert.
“We are concerned by the messages that the movie implies: that it is better to be dead than disabled and that disabled people do able-bodied people a favour by killing themselves,” she added.
Ms Joubert said some protesters are considering follow-up events the following week as they were encouraged by people’s feedback.
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