Santas Go on Rampage in New Zealand

AP ^ | Dec 17, 2005

[Leroy S. Mort]

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - A group of 40 people dressed in Santa Claus costumes, many of them drunk, rampaged through New Zealand's largest city, robbing stores and assaulting security guards, police said Sunday.

The rampage, dubbed ``Santarchy'' by local newspapers, began early Saturday afternoon when the men, wearing ill-fitting Santa costumes, threw beer bottles and urinated on cars from an Auckland overpass, said Auckland Central Police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty.

She said the men then rushed through a central city park, overturning garbage containers, throwing bottles at passing cars and spraying graffiti on buildings.

One man climbed the mooring line of a cruise ship before being ordered down by the captain. Other Santas, objecting when the man was arrested, attacked security staff, Hegarty said.

The remaining Santas entered a downtown convenience store and carried off beer and soft drinks.

``They came in, said 'Merry Christmas' and then helped themselves,'' store owner Changa Manakynda said.

Alex Dyer, a spokesman for the group, said Santarchy was a worldwide movement designed to protest the commercialization of Christmas.

Three people were arrested and charged with drunkenness and disorderly behavior.

[Leroy S. Mort]

Ho, ho, h*ly sh*t....

[Rebelbase]

[nevergore]

Guess who's going on the "Naughty List"....

[neodad]

But were they Lebanese Santa's?

[joshhiggins]

a worldwide movement designed to protest the commercialization of Christmas

Yeah Right!

[RegulatorCountry]

"the men, wearing ill-fitting Santa costumes"

Poorly clad ... obviously ruffians.

[Prime Choice]

A group of 40 people dressed in Santa Claus costumes, many of them drunk, rampaged through New Zealand's largest city, robbing stores and assaulting security guards, police said Sunday.

Rumor has it there was some groping too. Here's a photo of one of the suspects...

[Westlander]

Why shouldn't Santa be allowed to party ?

[Roccus]

Santa Clause wears a red suit, he's a communist.
With his beard and his long hair, he must be a pacifist.
What's in that pipe he's smoking?
Why is he always smiling?


(apologies to Arlo Guthrie)

[IronJack]

I thought the Evil Santa was a figment of Matt Groening's imagination.

Seriously though, this is one more reason to reject the commercialized charade that Christmas has become. No more Santas. No more plastic reindeer lawn ornaments. No more neighborhood lighting contests that pit one school of gaudiness against another.

It's time to return to the hush of that Bethlehem night, broken only by the chorus from on high when the world changed forever.

[sheik yerbouty]

Bad Santa!

[lesser_satan]

I offer all due sympathy to anybody whose property was destroyed or stolen by these hooligans.

That being said, this is the most absurdly funny thing I've seen posted here in a long time.

[Triggerhippie]

That looks like Satan Claus to me.

[martin_fierro]

A group of 40 people dressed in Santa Claus costumes, many of them drunk, rampaged through New Zealand's largest city, robbing stores and assaulting security guards, police said Sunday.

Told ya.

[Paul C. Jesup]

Maybe they were Futurama fans.

[fanfan]

http://santarchy.com/

[Fierce Allegiance]

That was one of the nicest cards I've gotten this year.

[martin_fierro]

That was one of the *only* cards you got this year.

[xsmommy]

just put yours in email, honeybunch :> )

[Fierce Allegiance]

True. :(