http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/antiislam-rally-in-melton-victoria-po...Anti-Muslim protesters even turn on each other in Melbourne’s west
Therese Allaoui, Herald Sun
August 28, 2016 8:53pm
ANTI-Muslim protesters turned on each other in Melbourne’s west today.
As the sparse protest of about 100 people started to disperse at Hannah Watts Park, a fight broke out between True Blue Crew members and those from anti-Muslim street patrol group the Sons of Odin.
The dispute was dispelled by police.
WRIST SLAP: Rioters getting light sentences they expect
There was a heavy police presence at the rally to object to the “growing” Muslim population.
The protesters were particularly vehment about the “rise of Islam in Melton” after a
mosque was approved in the suburb last year, and claims of an “
Islamic housing estate” in May this year.
True Blue Crew leader Kane Miller, who organised the rally, said the group was fighting the “Muslim development” in Melton.
“We don’t think a Muslim-only estate is a wise thing,” Mr Miller said.
“It’s a wake-up call. If you want to be in Australia, you should have to live like an Australian.”
United Patriots Front leader Blair Cottrell said he wanted to “raise awareness about the Islam-only estate going up” in Melton.
“There’s a foreign power establishing itself in the community,” Mr Cottrell said. “It’s my job to let people in the community know that it’s happening.”
A number of protesters were also calling on Senator Pauline Hanson to run for prime minister. Earlier this year, seven people were arrested for violence and weapons offences at an anti-Islam protest in Coburg.
Victoria Police spokeswoman Leonie Johnson said police conducted weapons searches to ensure dangerous items were not brought into the rally.
There were no arrests.