BENDIGO, 29th August 2015
On Saturday afternoon anti-Islamic protesters, led by the United Patriots Front and Reclaim Australia, rallied in the centre of Bendigo, where they were met with a counter rally in support of the building of Bendigo’s first mosque. Police presence was palpable, with the town centre barricaded since Friday evening, and officers on horseback and on foot keeping the groups separated.
Counter protesters from groups such as No Room for Racism began to march from the Bendigo Trades Hall on View St and ended on the Lyttleton Terrace side of the town hall. Chants from the anti-racism group included ‘No Nazis, Never again!’ and ‘Muslims are Welcome, Racists are not!’ The tension erupted into violence which was quickly suppressed by members of the police force. An anti-Islamic protester broke through the police lines and shouts of ‘surround him’ were heard. The protester was passively surrounded until being escorted from the area by police.
The application for the building of Bendigo’s first mosque was approved by the city council in June 2014. Protesters appealed the decision to the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) but their appeal was recently denied, allowing the mosque to go ahead.
‘It’s all about fear’, a mosque supporter stated, after being text messaged by a friend from the other side of the police line.
‘…the mainstream media, is all on board, with the idea that Muslims are the problem in Australia, not Tony Abbott, not Gina Reinhart, but Muslims, and I think we should have a big round of boos to that idea.’ Protest leaders were energetic and motivated in showing their support of the right to freedom of religion. They continued to stress that we don’t have to use the mosque but that it should be there for those who choose to. Currently worshippers of Muslim faith are restricted to gathering in a small room at Latrobe University.
When violence did erupt, police responded with capsicum spray. There were no reports of serious injury or arrests. An anti-Islamic protester who was hit with capsicum spray responded ‘They shouldn’t have tried to burn our flag.’
While some supporters voiced concern that both sides of the debate were using similarly aggressive means of communication the action was largely confined to battles of volume; chants, music and speeches. People passionate about their cause utilising their right to demonstrate.