Aussies Counter Anti-Islam Rallies
SYDNEY – Hate protests against Islam and Muslims across Australia’s main cities have sparked clashes and confrontations after meeting counter protests rejecting their Islamophobic rhetoric over the past weekend.
“There was around 100 Reclaim Australia activists in Sydney and 600 of us opposing them,” “No Room for Racism” protester Ben Cooper told Anadolu Agency on Monday, July 20.
“As a gay man I wanted to take a stand in support of multiculturalism and say that we’re all different and we all benefit from that.
“I’m also concerned about the bigoted, extremist views of Reclaim Australia and their agenda, which is that the real Australian is white, conservative, Christian and straight,” he said.
Cooper is one of hundreds of anti-racism protesters who thronged to the streets of Canberra, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and many other places to counter anti-Islam rallies.
Holding slogans of “Child Brides Australia Says No”; “Deport Muslims” and “Ban the Burqa a Symbol of Oppression”, the anti-Islam protests continued on Saturday and Sunday.
The protests were confronted by anti-racism rallies in which placards read: “Hey Racists, Go Home”; “Nazis Get Off Our Streets”; “Say No to Ignorance” were raised.
The message that they’re trying to get across is that with racism and Islamophobia on the rise “it’s becoming dangerous, and not only for Muslims but all minority groups,” No Room for Racism organizer Mel Gregson said.
On the other, One Nation founder Pauline Hanson, a right-wing populist, whose strident opposition to multiculturalism has formed the bedrock of her party, expressed concerns about “the Islamization of Australia” and Halal certification.
“I’m anti Islam, [so] that is going to cause civil unrest in this country because of the differences in culture.
“I’m totally against Shari`ah Law. There is a push to bring it here. Once a population grows to a certain percentage they start demanding and getting what they want. That’s why in France there are over 740 no-go zones that police can’t enter because they’re Muslim dominated.”
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