Terrorism in New Zealand

An Australian man in his late twenties attacked two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. Fifty people were killed and 50 more injured. CNN reported that New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the attack on Friday as one of her country’s ‘darkest days.’ She said that the suspects held ‘extremist views’ that have no place in New Zealand or anywhere else in the world.

Instructors, click the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your classroom. The deck contains a writing prompt and a debate question as well as other assessment questions.

Download the PowerPoint Lecture Spark for Terrorism in New Zealand

Links

“Christchurch shootings: Brother proud of mosque victim’s ‘heroism’”
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47596816

“‘Our hearts are breaking’: NZ readies to bury mosque attack dead”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/hearts-breaking-nz-readies-bury-mosque-attack-dead-190316121434157.html

“New Zealand PM’s office received shooter’s ‘manifesto’ minutes before attack”
https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/16/asia/christchurch-new-zealand-mosque-shooting/index.html

“Christchurch mosque shootings: Who were the victims?”
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47593693

“‘My heart and soul is in grief’: Muslims in Christchurch mourn victims of massacre”
https://www.france24.com/en/20190308-islamic-state-group-baghouz-syria-sdf-civilians

“Christchurch attacker intended to continue rampage when arrested”
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-newzealand-shootout-primeminister/christchurch-attacker-intended-to-continue-rampage-when-arrested-idUSKCN1QX033

“Humanise the victims, not the white supremacist who killed them”
https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/humanise-victims-white-supremacist-killed-190316052155064.html

“How New Zealand’s gun laws compare to the States’”
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/how-new-zealands-gun-laws-compare-to-the-states

“The Guardian view on the Christchurch attacks: extremism’s rising danger”
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/15/the-guardian-view-on-the-christchurch-attacks-extremisms-rising-danger

“The whole world shares New Zealand’s sorrow over this far-right act of terror”
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/new-zealand-shooting-attack-christchurch-mosque-global-a8825446.html

“Editorial: How the New Zealand mass shootings are America’s responsibility, too”
https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Editorial-How-the-New-Zealand-mass-shootings-are-13692894.php

Assessment

• Writing: Describe the nature of the terrorist attack in New Zealand.
• Debate: Social media companies must be regulated in order to prevent the spread of hateful ideologies and violence.
• Poll: Do you believe governments must do more to crackdown on hateful ideologies spreading around the world?
• Short Answer: How has the Prime Minister of New Zealand responded to the terrorist attacks in her country?

Current events quiz:

1) Where did the Christchurch shooting occur?

a. United States
b. United Kingdom
c. New Zealand
d. Australia

2) What happened within 24 hours of the attack?

a. The Prime Minister made promises to outlaw semi-automatic rifles.
b. President Donald Trump made a speech promising more gun control in America.
c. The Prime Minister made slightly Islamophobic statements about the attack.
d. The shooter committed suicide.

3) Who is the Prime Minister of New Zealand?

a. Winston Peters
b. Clare Curran
c. Jacinda Ardern
d. Helen Clark

4) The New Zealand PM’s office received the shooter’s ‘manifesto’ minutes before the attack. (T/F)

5) Brenton Tarrant, the shooter, committed suicide before authorities could arrest him. (T/F)

6) Brenton Tarrant made a hand gesture associated with white supremacists during his appearance in court. (T/F)

Answers:

1) C

2) A

3) C

4) T

5) F

6) T

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