Ex-Cop Reunites with Protester He Arrested 40 Years Ago

Marcus Pearce was browsing a bookstore in Cygnet, Tasmania, when he spotted something unusual: his own 19-year-old face staring back at him from a book about environmental protests. The photos appeared in a memoir by Ian Wright, documenting the legendary Franklin River blockade of 1983.

Pearce, now retired, had been a fresh police cadet when he was dispatched to the remote protest site. Wright was among the protesters trying to stop construction of a hydro-electric dam that would have flooded Tasmania's pristine Franklin River.

The discovery excited Pearce so much that he tracked down Wright's contact information in the back of the book. He reached out to the man he had arrested more than 40 years earlier.

Wright went to the blockade in February 1983 with his camera, documenting everything over two weeks. He captured 700 photographs, recorded interviews, and kept meticulous notes. He also got arrested for trespassing, which was his plan once he saw the forest.

The Franklin River blockade became one of Australia's most significant environmental campaigns. Over 1,250 people were arrested during the two-month protest, which ultimately succeeded in stopping the dam and preserving the wilderness.

Wright remembered Pearce clearly from the photos, describing him laughing and talking with protesters. The bus ride back to Queenstown felt more like a camp outing than an arrest, with everyone singing songs.

Pearce admitted he couldn't recall arresting Wright specifically among the many protesters. But the reunion sparked reflections on how much has changed since then.

Sunny's Take

The moment captures something beautiful about time and perspective. Two young men on opposite sides of a historic conflict can now look back and appreciate what they shared: idealism, adventure, and a slice of Tasmanian history.

Pearce noted the stark differences between 1983 and today's protests. Officers went out without guns, capsicum spray, or reliable radio communication. Just two policemen would handle groups of protesters alone.

"Being young and probably fairly naive, it was a very enjoyable time," Pearce reflected. Wright never expected the policeman from his photos would reach out, making the reunion even sweeter.

Their reconnection reminds us that even in moments of conflict, there's room for mutual respect and, eventually, friendship.