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Overview
This placard was hand-painted by artist Siliga David Setoga for the 'Advance Pasifika: March For Our Future' protest held in Auckland on Saturday 16 June 2012 which saw hundreds march from Albert Park to Aotea Square.
The protest organisers called on local and national leaders to take notice of Pacific people's contribution to Auckland and New Zealand, demanding equality, affordable housing, better education, quality healthcare, fairness in the justice system, jobs, and a better future for Pasifika communities. According to Setoga, Advance Pasifika was 'about protesting for change, about waking up our people still in the same place after 60 years. They came here for a purpose. If we're still stuck in the low socio-economy - what's the point in coming?' (personal communication, 2014).
Setoga's work provokes questions of identity, politics, religion and social issues that face Pacific people. This placard is one of a group which includes slogans ranging from the personal ('Marching for my Dad and my kids') to the historical ('Manatua le Mau'). Family and friends helped Setoga carry the placards, and he wore a worker's boiler suit and gumboots as part of his stance.
The raised clenched fist was the key symbol of the Advance Pasifika march, and is an enduring and internationally recognised symbol of solidarity and strength.