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Three arrested as Reclaim Australia and anti-racism protesters face off in Sydney Five arrested as Reclaim Australia and anti-racism protesters face off in Sydney
(about 3 hours later)
Three people have been arrested at a rally by the anti-Islam Reclaim Australia group in central Sydney. Five people have been arrested at anti-racism and anti-Islam rallies in Sydney, a day after violent clashes at similar protests in Melbourne.
A man has been arrested for offensive behaviour and another for breaching the peace, while a woman has been taken into custody for assaulting police, a police spokeswoman said. About 150 members of the Reclaim Australia group gathered in Sydney’s Martin Place on Sunday morning, some wearing ancient Greek army costumes and others with Australian flags draped across their shoulders.
It is believed the woman, who was the first arrested, was among anti-racism protesters who turned up to protest against Reclaim Australia. Two blocks away, a loud counter-protest group waved banners saying “Stand with multiculturalism against racism” and “No racism, no Islamophobia”.
One person has been treated for minor injuries but no one has been seriously hurt, a paramedic said. Police kept the groups separated but one man was swooped on by officers after slipping into the anti-racism protest.
Earlier in the morning police formed a line in front of the anti-racism protesters and stationed several units of mounted officers around Martin Place. Banners reading “stand with multiculturalism against racism” and “no racism, no Islamophbia” were held high.
Related: Reclaim Australia supporters and counter-protesters clash amid violent scenesRelated: Reclaim Australia supporters and counter-protesters clash amid violent scenes
Three people in ancient Greek-like military costumes, including helmets and shields, and four men with Australia flags draped on their shoulders were among about 50 people apparently gathered for the Reclaim Australia protest. The crowd became noisy and several people shouted “Nazi” as he was led away.
Police patrolled a “sterile” or buffer zone running across two city blocks in order to prevent direct clashes with the anti-racist protesters. George Jameson, rallying with Reclaim Australia in a replica Spartan military outfit, said they weren’t racists and had come together to stand up for freedom of speech.
The groups were several hundred metres apart mid-morning but chants from the bigger anti-racist cohort were loudest. “Both my parents are immigrants. They both came from the former Yugoslav Republic, how can I be a racist? I’m a first-gen Aussie,” he said. “I’m [here] for freedom of speech and democracy and respecting individualism, respecting someone’s dignity and their human rights.”
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 Sunday morning police warned those who planned to attend the Sydney rally that criminal, anti-social or dangerous behaviour would not be tolerated.
“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.”
Related: Hell will freeze over before I pull out of Reclaim Australia's rally | George ChristensenRelated: Hell will freeze over before I pull out of Reclaim Australia's rally | George Christensen
The first protest began at 10am in Martin Place between Macquarie and Phillip Streets with a counter-demonstration starting half an hour later. But at the other end of the street, protester Linc Saunders said some had different intentions.
There were no plans to close roads but drivers should be careful, police said. “There are people amongst them who are involved with the violent far-right groups,” he said. “The fact that some of them spout online pro neo-Nazi propaganda, I think that just shows who we are up against here.”
Reclaim Australia called supporters to gather in Sydney 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”. Assistant Commissioner Alan Clarke, who was in charge of police operations in the city told reporters: “We’re quite pleased with the way the day has gone.
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, Bribane, Canberra, Hobart and Perth. “Overall we had a reasonably good level of compliance with the protesters.”
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. Two of those arrested are likely to be charged: a 40-year-old woman who allegedly assaulted police and a 57-year-old man accused of offensive behaviour.
On Sunday morning police separated anti-Islam and anti-racist protesters at a Reclaim Australia rally in Brisbane. Police tape was rolled out to divide the two groups of protesters. Three other men, two aged 19 and one 35, were arrested for breaching the peace and made to leave the protests. They haven’t been charged.
Anti-racism protesters chanted loudly to try and drown out the speakers at the Reclaim Australia rally, held in a park in Brisbane’s CBD. Clarke wouldn’t say with which group the arrested people were rallying.
One Nation founder Pauline Hanson was due to address the Reclaim Australia rally in Rockhampton. A 35-year-old man was hospitalised with minor head injuries and a 48-year-old man was treated for a minor facial cut at the scene.
Federal government MP George Christensen was due attend the Mackay rally despite opposition criticism. Similar protests in Melbourne on Saturday were much more heated, with at least four people arrested and dozens hit with capsicum spray by police who battled to keep the two sides apart.
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. Other Sunday rallies were planned for Canberra, Hobart, Perth and Queensland, including Mackay, where federal government MP George Christensen and Pauline Hanson were among Reclaim Australia’s scheduled speakers.
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.” The opposition immigration spokesman, Richard Marles, has said it was “extraordinary” that Tony Abbott allowed 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,” Mr 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.”
The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, said the prime minister should not allow his MPs to stir up trouble by attending Reclaim Australia rallies.
“I think Mr Abbott needs to stand with the silent majority of Australians who watch the TV and ask ‘what’s going on?’, rather than giving the green light to his MPs to stir up problems,” he told reporters in Melbourne.