Anti-Muslim protesters even turn on each other in Melbourne’s west

Rasa - Anti-Muslim protesters turned on each other in Melbourne’s west today.

News ID: 423026

Date: 28 August 2016 - 17:23

RNA - As the sparse protest of about 100 people started to disperse at Hannah Watts Park, a fight broke out between True Blue Crew members and those from anti-Muslim street patrol group the Sons of Odin. The dispute was dispelled by police.

There was a heavy police presence at the rally to object to the “growing” Muslim population.

The protesters were particularly vehment about the “rise of Islam in Melton” after a mosque was approved in the suburb last year, and claims of an “Islamic housing estate” in May this year.

True Blue Crew leader Kane Miller, who organised the rally, said the group was fighting the “Muslim development” in Melton.

“We don’t think a Muslim-only estate is a wise thing,” Miller said.

“It’s a wake-up call. If you want to be in Australia, you should have to live like an Australian.”

United Patriots Front leader Blair Cottrell said he wanted to “raise awareness about the Islam-only estate going up” in Melton.

“There’s a foreign power establishing itself in the community,” Cottrell said. “It’s my job to let people in the community know that it’s happening.”

A number of protesters were also calling on Senator Pauline Hanson to run for prime minister. Earlier this year, seven people were arrested for violence and weapons offences at an anti-Islam protest in Coburg.

Victoria Police spokeswoman Leonie Johnson said police conducted weapons searches to ensure dangerous data-x-items were not brought into the rally.

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