Aussie anti-Islam protests turn violent

Rasa - In Australia, anti-Muslim protesters have staged demonstrations across the country, with counter-rallies held supporting multiculturalism, prompting clashes between the opposing groups.

News ID: 2287

Date: 05 April 2015 - 17:13

RNA - The far-right group, Reclaim Australia, held protests in 16 cities across the country, including the provincial capitals, regional and rural towns, protesting against what they claimed minority groups who want to change the Australian cultural identity.

In Sydney, far-right protesters marched in the city carrying banners reading “Yes Australia. No Islam.” However the group was outnumbered by anti-racist demonstrators.

Clare Fester, organizer of the counter-rally, said Reclaim Australia is racist and divisive and the march is “quite clearly an attack on Muslims and Muslim communities in this country.”

Fester added that Australia’s mainstream politicians have encouraged the racist sentiments, with Prime Minister Tony Abbott “attacking Muslim leaders and telling them they need to stamp out extremism that really doesn’t exist, certainly not in Australia.”

This is while in the southern city of Melbourne, clashes were reported between the two groups, with at least two people injured.

More than 100 police officers formed a barricade between two opposing sides as scuffles broke about near the city’s Federation Square.

The Reclaim Australia protesters were also outnumbered in southern city by counter-demonstrators chanting “immigrants are welcome, racists are not.”

Meanwhile, clashes were also reported between Reclaim Australia protesters and counter demonstrators in the southern city of Adelaide and in Perth in the west.

Reclaim Australia staged similar protests in a number of other cities including Brisbane and on the Australian island of Tasmania, which were also met by counter-rallies.

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