COMMENT
Rivals conflict at Coburg race rally
A number of individuals have been arrested after a violent brawl erupted between anti-racism and anti-Islam teams in Melbourne’s internal-north on Saturday.
Earlier than the violence started, two ladies sporting niqabs with solely their eyes uncovered walked previous the Coburg library in entrance of a line of police.
It was a weird sight. Not due to the ladies, however due to the 24 cops, six on horses, blocking the road behind them.
In all places you appeared on Saturday in Coburg, there have been strains of police. The often bustling Sydney Street was a ghost city. Deposits of horse manure littered the streets and strains of individuals stood about, watching, braced for one thing. It was a tense environment, fearful.
My overriding emotion nevertheless, was fury.
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It is onerous to think about a worse consequence for an anti-racism rally than for it to convey Nazis to the streets of Coburg, however that is what occurred.
Coburg is an extremely numerous place. Virtually 34 per cent of its residents have been born abroad, and virtually forty per cent converse a language aside from English at house. It is famously welcoming and pleasant.
Saturday’s anti-racism rally – Moreland Says NO To Racism – was organised by Socialist Alliance councillor Sue Bolton months in the past. Its objective was widespread, to protest on the closure of Aboriginal communities, the detention of asylum seekers, and Islamophobia.
It had the help of Antifa, the unfastened-knit community of so-referred to as anti-fascist activists, whose sworn enemy is the far-proper, together with anti-Islam group the United Patriots Entrance.
Each time the UPF, Reclaim Australia and their ilk maintain a rally – for instance towards the constructing of the Bendigo mosque – the Antifa brigade flip up and maintain a counter protest.
And positive sufficient, when the UPF received wind of the Coburg rally, they swore they might flip up en masse and attempt to knock some leftie heads collectively.
Earlier than lengthy Moreland Council was asking Cr Bolton and her fellow organisers to cancel the rally to keep away from hassle. However they dug of their heels, believing that bowing to the desire of the far-proper would permit them to dictate the agenda and set a harmful precedent.
Cr Bolton has refused to take any duty for the police presence, the outlets being pressured to close and for the violence that predictably unfolded between rival teams outdoors a main faculty on Bell Road.
However she ought to. It was extremely naive to not see that the curiosity of the UPF was going to be piqued by a rally supported by Antifa, and it is disingenuous to say that no duty for what transpired lies with organisers.
Individuals have the appropriate to protest, and that proper must be protected and revered. However certainly for those who’re holding a political motion like a rally it is value considering rigorously about what your goals are, and the way you will obtain them, in any other case the entire thing is self-serving.
If the rally organisers had held their protest outdoors the State Library, for instance, Coburg’s numerous group wouldn’t have been besieged by racists on Saturday.
The anti-racism rally was peaceable and constructive in message. It was attended by younger and previous.
Nevertheless it additionally attracted a fringe aspect – younger, masked males (who have been indistinguishable from the UPF supporters besides they weren’t adorned with Australian flags) intent on hassle.
Organisers have complained about the media protection of the anti-racism rally, saying it did not pretty characterize the rally they have been at. Maybe. However the scary sight of masked males bashing one another with flag poles tends to draw consideration.
And when the arrests got here, there was one thing hanging – however unsurprising – concerning the stories.
A Bendigo man, a Skye man, a Broadmeadows man, a Keilor East man, a Reservoir man and a Gisborne man have been arrested.
None from Coburg. This wasn’t about Coburg. However its residents paid the worth.
As my husband, toddler and I stood watching, an African-born native turned to us. “What are they making an attempt to show?” he requested. “What is the level?”
It was onerous to know what to reply.