RAN AT TROOPS
Paint protest girl is fined $6,gets bond
Twenty-one-year-old Nadine Jensen was fined $6 yesterday for dousing herself with a red paint mixture and running into Wednesday’s parade troops.
“A woman dripping with red paint breaks into the ranks of the 1st Battalion during their march today. June 8,1966.”Noel Stubbs
Miss Jensen,a typist,of Rudd Street,Campbelltown,pleaded guilty in Central Court of Petty Sessions to offensive behaviour outside the Town Hall.
She was also placed on a $100 bond to be of good behaviour for 12 months.
Miss Jensen,whose hair was still stained by a patch of red paint,was entitled,as a first offender,to a closed court.
But she elected to be heard in open court.
Detective-Sergeant A. Whitelaw said that about 1 p.m. on Wednesday,Miss Jensen ran on to George Street as the troops,who had returned from Vietnam,approached the saluting dais.
Apologised to Court
“As she did so she poured a mixture of red pigment and turpentine over her head and clothing and then attempted to pass through the ranks,” he said.
Detective-Sergeant Whitelaw said Miss Jensen bumped into some of the lenders of the march,soiling their clothes with red paint.
“Anti-war protester Nadine Jensen,a typist from Campbelltown,is restrained by a police officer after covering herself in red paint during the return march in Sydney for the 1 RAR,after they returned from active duty in Vietnam. ”Noel Stubbs
Asked by Mr B. Riley,S.M.. whether she had any explanation for her behaviour,Miss Jensen apologised for taking up the Court’s time.
“I believe it is the opinion of the Court that my action was wholly and solely against the soldiers,” she said.
But the soldiers were the instruments of higher authority,and her actions were against the authority itself she said.
Nadine Jensen leaving Central Police Station after being charged with offensive behaviour. June 8,1966.Staff photographer
“That is why I committed this action in this fashion.” Miss Jensen said. “My action may have been wrong in that I should have been protesting against those people in Australia whose attitude was one of complacency and apathy.
“I know Australians are very brave physically but I think they should show more intellectual and moral bravery.”
Miss Jensen said there was a moral issue at stake and she felt if people examined themselves they would find Australia’s involvement in Vietnam was not justified.
She said she did not belong to any party organisation.
Mr Riley asked her what she hoped to achieve by her action.
Her “personal responsibility”
She replied she thought it was her personal responsibility to do something about the situation in Vietnam.
“I hoped to bring to the notice of the authorities that there are people who disagree with them.” Miss Jensen said.
Mr Riley told her:“I don’t know whether I should remand you in custody and have you psychiatrically examined.”
She said she had been psychiatrically examined twice and doctors had told her there was nothing wrong with her.
Miss Jensen paid the $6 fine immediately after the hearing.
As she left the courthouse young men holding anti-Vietnam placards were on the footpath.