Four people have been arrested today as anti-Islamic and anti-racist protesters clash during rallies in Melton, Victoria.
Punches have been thrown among protesters, pepper spray was used and hundreds of police have worked together to separate members of the United Patriots Front and Reclaim Australia activists during a planned rally today.
Multiple fights broken out between the two protest groups with some members being hit with capsicum spray. Meanwhile in Queensland, organisers of the Brisbane Reclaim Australia rally wore Australian flags as capes and flashed check tattoos proclaiming ‘Anzac’ as they marched to the vocals of Jimmy Barnes.
The rallies took place just outside Brisbane CBD at Emma Miller Place, with fences and a strong police line.
The Brisbane Times reports that, “while the counter rally, which outnumbered the 200 or so Reclaim Australia supporters by at least 100 people, yelled ‘Muslims are welcome, racists are not’, the group on the other side asked their supporters to “bear with us, we’re having a few technical difficulties here”.
Top Comments
Both groups are at the extremes and I don't think either are helping their cause if they are trying to garner support.
I saw an interview on the news with an exasperated local who called both groups "a fly in rent a crowd". I thought it was pretty accurate and I don't give either group much thought or credibility.
I am all for people protesting for the things they believe in, but I'm not sure either side is getting anywhere with this kind of behaviour. If their object is to convince people that their side is right, they are way off course. Most reasonable people will be put off by the violence and anger - on both sides. Might be time for everyone to try something different.