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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jul/19/reclaim-australia-rally-sydney-police-high-alert
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| Police on alert as Reclaim Australia and anti-racism protesters face off in Sydney | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police formed a line in front of the anti-racism protesters and stationed several units of mounted officers around Martin Place on Sunday when protesters from two groups who clashed violently in Melbourne on Saturday rallied in Sydney. | |
| Banners reading “stand with multiculturalism against racism” and “no racism, no Islamophbia” were held high in the cool morning air. | |
| Reclaim Australia were expected to begin its demonstration further up Martin Place about 10am. | |
| At least four people were arrested and dozens hit with capsicum spray when small groups of protesters from Reclaim Australia and the United Patriots Front were outnumbered by anti-racism protesters in Melbourne on Saturday. | At least four people were arrested and dozens hit with capsicum spray when small groups of protesters from Reclaim Australia and the United Patriots Front were outnumbered by anti-racism protesters in Melbourne on Saturday. |
| Related: Reclaim Australia supporters and counter-protesters clash amid violent scenes | Related: Reclaim Australia supporters and counter-protesters clash amid violent scenes |
| Similar demonstrations were planned for Martin Place in Sydney on Sunday and police warned those who plan to attend that criminal, anti-social or dangerous behaviour won’t be tolerated. | Similar demonstrations were planned for Martin Place in Sydney on Sunday and police warned those who plan to attend that criminal, anti-social or dangerous behaviour won’t be tolerated. |
| “If you choose to do the wrong thing, you’ll be removed and dealt with appropriately,” Assistant Commissioner Alan Clarke said. | “If you choose to do the wrong thing, you’ll be removed and dealt with appropriately,” Assistant Commissioner Alan Clarke said. |
| “The same goes for anyone who attempts to cause disharmony or incite conflict with those who may hold opposing views.” | “The same goes for anyone who attempts to cause disharmony or incite conflict with those who may hold opposing views.” |
| Related: Hell will freeze over before I pull out of Reclaim Australia's rally | George Christensen | Related: Hell will freeze over before I pull out of Reclaim Australia's rally | George Christensen |
| Additional officers were set to be deployed in the city and police have said they “will have sufficient resources available to cope with any eventuality”. | Additional officers were set to be deployed in the city and police have said they “will have sufficient resources available to cope with any eventuality”. |
| The first protest was scheduled to begin at 10am in Martin Place between Macquarie and Phillip Streets with a counter-demonstration due to start half an hour later. | The first protest was scheduled to begin at 10am in Martin Place between Macquarie and Phillip Streets with a counter-demonstration due to start half an hour later. |
| There were no plans to close roads but drivers should be careful, police said. | There were no plans to close roads but drivers should be careful, police said. |
| “Police will respond swiftly to violent or disruptive behaviour or any action that poses a threat to community safety,” Clarke said. | “Police will respond swiftly to violent or disruptive behaviour or any action that poses a threat to community safety,” Clarke said. |
| Hundreds were expected to flock to Martin Place to protest against bigotry, xenophobia and Islamophobia. | Hundreds were expected to flock to Martin Place to protest against bigotry, xenophobia and Islamophobia. |
| Reclaim Australia called supporters to gather in the same city street a short time later, for what organisers have described as “a public response to the shock of recent atrocities of ‘Islam’s radicals’ both inside and outside of Australia”. | Reclaim Australia called supporters to gather in the same city street a short time later, for what organisers have described as “a public response to the shock of recent atrocities of ‘Islam’s radicals’ both inside and outside of Australia”. |
| Opposing rallies were also planned for other cities including Mackay in Queensland, where federal government MP George Christensen and Pauline Hanson were among Reclaim Australia’s scheduled speakers, Canberra, Hobart and Perth. | |
| Queensland police said they will be out in force at the Sunday rallies. | |
| “The [Queensland police service] acknowledges the rights of citizens to voice their opinions, however will be seeking to balance this right with public safety concerns associated with large groups of people occupying public space,” a police spokeswoman said. | |
| One Nation founder Pauline Hanson addressed the Reclaim Australia rally in Rockhampton at 10am.Federal government MP George Christensen will attend the Mackay rally despite opposition criticism.The opposition immigration spokesman, Richard Marles, has said it’s “extraordinary” that Tony Abbott is allowing MPs to attend “racist” rallies while inflicting a boycott on the ABC’s Q&A program. | |
| Christensen disputes the racist label. “Labor has declared that Mackay residents attending the Reclaim Australia rally against extreme Islam are racists,” Christensen wrote on Facebook on Sunday. | |
| “They can say what they like about me but I take offence at this defamation on behalf of my constituents who will be attending this rally, some of whom are life-long Labor voters.” |