Reclaim Australia, No Room For Racism rallies clash in Melton
Updated
Six people have been arrested and police forced to intervene as 1,000 rival demonstrators clashed at a Reclaim Australia rally at Melton, west of Melbourne.
About 500 people from Reclaim Australia gathered at the Melton Civic Centre carrying Australian flags and signs reading "integrate or immigrate".
It is part of a national day of anti-Islam protests being held across the country.
The group chose the site in response to a move by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) earlier this year to overrule the local council's decision to deny the Melbourne Islamic Centre a permit to build a mosque in Melton.
A group called No Room For Racism held a counter-rally nearby in response, with hundreds chanting "Muslims are welcome, racists aren't".
Similar counter-rallies were also held last month in Bendigo, following the approval of a new mosque by the town's local council.
At the Melton rallies there is a strong police presence, with officers creating a barricade between the two groups.
Officers were seen dragging a number of Reclaim Australia members away from the scene and were forced to break up several scuffles between the groups.
One man was arrested for punching a police horse, while five others were arrested for weapons offences and riotous behaviour.
Capsicum spray was also used on some No Room For Racism protesters.
Acting Commander Alan Byrnes from Victoria Police said officers managed to keep the peace.
"We've had a successful day from a policing and community safety point of view," he said.
"It's always a bit disappointing when you see people turn up with masks, and you wonder what their motives are.
"But all in all, I think it was fairly peaceful."
He said no emergency service workers were harmed during the scuffles but three members of public reported injuries.
Reclaim Australia defends right to protest
There have been constant chanting of "Aussie, Aussie Aussie, oi, oi, oi" from Reclaim Australia and the group also came together to sing the national anthem.
Many covered their faces using Australian flags and scarves.
One protester from Reclaim Australia defended his right to protest, and denied the group was racist.
"I want my kids to have the same upbringing as I had, I want our kids to be able to sing the national anthem, have Christmas carols at their schools and not have to put up with the hijab," he told the ABC.
"Why do they need to build their own mosque and their own schools when they can send their kids to our schools?
"They need to assimilate and become a part of us."
The Melton local said the area needed a special school more than an Islamic school.
"Wake up and actually smell what we are trying to say, you know, like we want the rights of a special needs school to trump the wants of an Islamic school, which they want the school," he said.
"Special needs need that school in Melton because they need a bigger school."
Attorney-General labels protesters 'cowards, mugs'
But Vashti Kenway from the anti-racism group rejected the claim that Reclaim Australia protesters were demonstrating about local issues.
"I would reject the idea it's been hijacked by a wider cause," she said.
"I would say that a lot of people coming into Melton claiming their there for a special school are in actual fact using this as their issue to whip up a broader campaign of Islamophobia.
"In fact the special school has got funding from the State Government."
Last week a Melbourne man who planned to attend the rally was sentenced to one month in jail after pleading guilty to possessing five Tasers.
Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane had earlier said while police respected the rights of people to express their views peacefully, there will be no tolerance for anyone breaking the law.
He said officers would ensure there are no breaches of the peace or crimes motivated by prejudice or racism.
Premier Daniel Andrews said he supported people's right to protest, but not the spreading of hate.
"The only form of legitimate protest is peaceful protest. And if you're out there pedalling hate, you're not a protester, you're just a bigot," he said.
While on Twitter, Attorney-General Martin Pakula labelled Reclaim Australia "cowards, mugs and bigots".
Topics: community-and-society, religion-and-beliefs, police, melton-3337, vic
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