Violent Clashes Between Reclaim Australia Supporters And Counter-Protesters

Reclaim Australia protesters have been facing resistance from anti-racism rallies in Melbourne. The police forces have used capsicum spray to keep the protest off the streets on Saturday.

The Guardian confirmed at least dozens have been sprayed with capsicum spray and four people have been arrested during the protest that continued for almost four hours on Saturday morning. The streets near the parliament were blocked by hundreds of police resisting the opposing groups.

Protesters filled with extreme anger hurled abuses at each other and openly burnt placards. As soon as the protest began, the anti-racism protesters outnumbered the protesters from Reclaim Australia who were accompanied by members from United Patriots Front.

Anti-racism protesters representing Rally Against Racism and United Against Islamophobia said they wouldn’t let Australia be a country with narrow religious outlook. Meanwhile, police warned the organisers of the protest to stay within limit as they have been inciting hatred and criminal offence.

Stephen Leane, Assistant Commissioner of Police, reported that the protesters have lost the main ideology of the protest and things have only boiled down to violent clashes. "I think the message of the day from either side has been lost," he said. Shermon Burgess, who runs the Great Aussie Patriot website, said that he wanted a safe Australia and it was high time that Muslim community stopped spreading religious fundamentalism. Both the government and opposition condemned the violence clash that followed the protest.

Protesters of Reclaim Australia felt that issuing halal certification was the first step to allow implementation of sharia law in the city. However, people participating in anti-racism rallies said that no far-right racist, sexist, homophobic attitudes would be tolerated in Melbourne and swear to mobilise even more to resist such actions.

The deputy premier of Victoria said diversity should be protected at any cost and those who try to spread hatred should not be tolerated. It has affected the multicultural harmony, said Nina Springle, the Victorian Greens acting leader. The Guardian reported that several people including a man of 50s have been taken to the nearby hospital after they suffocated by the use of the capsicum spray.

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