26 June 2016•Update: 29 June 2016
By Recep Sakar
MELBOURNE, Australia
At least three people were arrested Sunday after violence broke out during the latest rival rallies in Australia that saw anti-racism and anti-immigration protesters gather in Melbourne.
News broadcaster ABC reported that more than 100 anti-racism protesters chanted slogans such as "No hate, no fear, fascists are not welcome here" in front of Parliament, while up to 60 people from anti-immigration movements gathered to "celebrate" the Australian flag nearby.
Despite a heavy police presence, which included officers wearing riot gear and riding on horseback, fighting erupted between the groups despite efforts to keep them apart.
An Australian flag was reportedly burned during the tension.
Members of the Campaign Against Racism and Fascism were among those who chanted “Muslims are welcome, racists are not” and “Free refugees” in front of the legislature before marching to a state library.
Jerome Small, an activist from the group, told Anadolu Agency that he overall considered the anti-racism gathering to have been “a significant victory”.
“The far right wanted to march and spread racism and fear and terror through the streets of Melbourne, they wanted to terrorize migrants, they wanted to wave their Australian flag, and hundreds of people -- all different backgrounds, all different politics -- united to say ‘no this is not gonna happen in Melbourne,” he said.
Last month, seven people were arrested and police used pepper spray after violence erupted between anti-racism and anti-Islam protesters in the northern Melbourne suburb of Coburg.
Authorities had responded to the incident by revealing that they were discussing a ban on facemasks at rallies.
On Sunday, ABC quoted the police minister for Victoria state, Lisa Neville, as saying that new laws aimed at issuing stricter penalties to protesters who wore masks and granting new police powers would be introduced later in the year.
"Victorians have had enough of seeing this sort of incitement of hatred and violence," she said. "It does send a message that if you wear a facemask, you will be removed from a protest. If you wear a facemask and commit an offence, you will go to jail for longer."
