Reclaim Australia protesters have clashed with anti-racism groups and police have used capsicum spray at opposing rallies in Melbourne. 
 
The steps and roads around state parliament have been blocked and police lines are dividing groups, including the Coalition Against Racism and Fascism and right-wing Reclaim Australia. Police have been forced to use capsicum spray to quell crowds and break up tense encounters between the various groups, with anti-racism protesters labelling the others fascists and Nazis.

At one stage, anti-racism groups got around police lines, clashing physically with a Reclaim Australia supporter.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said there had been only “minor violence” and the situation appeared under control.

Reclaim Australia protesters have been seen carrying signs saying “patriotism is not racism” and “stop non-white immigration”. Their numbers are set to swell on Saturday afternoon as they are joined by members of a splinter group, the United Patriots Front. Rallies are also planned by United Against Islamophobia and Rally Against Racism groups.

Coalition Against Racism and Fascism spokeswoman Vashti Kenway said anti-racism groups were mobilising to send a message that their rivals’ views were not acceptable.

“The clear message is that Melburnians aren’t going to stand for the kind of far right racist, sexist, homophobic attitudes that have really been embodied in both the United Patriots Front and Reclaim Australia, and that we’re prepared to take a stand in the city, that we’re prepared to say Melbourne is not the place for those kinds of attitudes,” she said.

Ms Kenway accused police of overreacting and creating unwarranted hype around the demonstrations but said the protest would continue despite the heavy security.

Victoria Greens acting leader Nina Springle said state and federal leaders should condemn Reclaim Australia and reject fear-mongering.
   
“The so-called Reclaim Australia movement should be called out for what it is: a small but organised group of people stirring up racist fears about Muslims in Australia,” she said.

“It’s regrettable that there’s a fringe element that wants to undermine this multicultural harmony.” AAP

.............A handful of Reclaim Australia protesters found themselves hemmed in next to the Princess Theatre, and were forced to withstand a flurry of punches......

............Little Bourke St was transformed into a temporary triage centre as scores of injured protesters lay stricken on the ground receiving treatment.

The street was littered with empty water and milk bottles used to douse the effects of the spray.

Two anti-Islam supporters found themselves under attack after they were chased up Spring St by a baying mob, before being viciously assaulted at a tram stop.

One man was seen stamping on another man’s head as he was knocked to the ground.

Events started to sour at the start of a rally by anti-Islam group Reclaim Australia when hundreds of anti-racism demonstrators attending the earlier Rally Against Racism protest in Bourke St marched into Spring St..............

John Smith wrote on Jul 18^th, 2015 at 10:38pm:


Yes. The leftards said really mean things at the rally today. All we were trying to do was ban all the Muslims.

What's wrong with that?

Enquiring mind wrote on Jul 18^th, 2015 at 10:41pm:


kill them !