Police arrest five during Sydney Reclaim Australia and anti-racisim rallies

Protestors against Islam in Australia hold up various banners during a ‘Reclaim Australia’ protest in Brisbane, 19 July. Fear of young Australian Muslims being inspired by militants such as Islamic State and travelling to fight in Iraq and Syria has underpinned support for right-wing groups like Reclaim Australia and the United Patriots Front – Reuters

Reuters: Five people were arrested after scuffles broke out between Australian nationalists and anti-racism protesters during a rally in Sydney on Sunday (19), local media and police officials said.

Police said over 600 people from both groups gathered in the Sydney’s city centre. Reclaim Australia supporters rallied near Martin Place, carrying Australian flags, singing the national anthem and listening to speeches criticising Islam and immigrants.

Similar to the previous day’s rally in Melbourne, anti-racism protesters attempted to disrupt the rally and chanted, “Nazi scum, off our streets” while holding banners reading “No racism, no Islamophobia”. A couple of Reclaim Australia supporters scuffled with anti-racism protesters, who then chased them down the street during the rally.

Addressing the crowd, one anti-racism protester said they needed to stand together to defeat racism.

“We need to co-exist. We need to stand together to defeat racism, fascism and nazism, said one anti-racism supporter said.

One man, who attended the rally with his family, explained why they joined the protest.

“Basically I oppose racism and my whole family opposes racism and bigotry that the other rally stands for,” one unidentified man said.

More than a dozen Reclaim rallies were held around the country with most passing off with only minor scuffles, local media reported.

On Saturday (18), Australian nationalists and anti-racism activists clashed with police in Melbourne in a rare display of violence in a country where immigration is an increasingly emotive political issue.

Fear of young Australian Muslims being inspired by militants such as Islamic State and travelling to fight in Iraq and Syria has underpinned support for right-wing groups like Reclaim Australia and the United Patriots Front.