Race Scuffles Riots; That'll ruin your Australian Summer
Note: What we are seeing here is a tip of an iceberg. For this to happen, there must have been long simmering tensions and problems in the community for this to erupt.
The trigger event for yesterday seems to have been this (last week)
"Police will allege that as the three lifesavers were walking from the beach to the boardwalk about 3pm four Middle Eastern youths began yelling at them in Arabic. The lifesavers said to the the youths: "What are you looking at?"
The Middle Eastern youths allegedly told the lifesavers to get off the beach and that they "owned" the beach.
The lifesavers allegedly responded by telling the youths that if they went in the surf, they would need rescuing because they could not swim." (Daily Telegraph)
"Racial tension turned to violence today as at least 5000 angry people converged on the beach after simmering anger and disputes between beach users flared last week." (Tim Blair)
If you follow links and reportings around the web, it doesn't look good. Maybe some Australian nomads care to give better explanation on what's going on.
Reports from Sydney Morning Herald.
"A crowd of at least 5000 - overwhelmingly under 25 - took over Cronulla's foreshore and beachside streets. Police were powerless as 200-odd ringleaders, many clutching bottles or cans of beer and smoking marijuana, led assaults on individuals and small groups of Lebanese Australians who risked an appearance during the six-hour protest.
The trigger event for yesterday seems to have been this (last week)
"Police will allege that as the three lifesavers were walking from the beach to the boardwalk about 3pm four Middle Eastern youths began yelling at them in Arabic. The lifesavers said to the the youths: "What are you looking at?"
The Middle Eastern youths allegedly told the lifesavers to get off the beach and that they "owned" the beach.
The lifesavers allegedly responded by telling the youths that if they went in the surf, they would need rescuing because they could not swim." (Daily Telegraph)
"Racial tension turned to violence today as at least 5000 angry people converged on the beach after simmering anger and disputes between beach users flared last week." (Tim Blair)If you follow links and reportings around the web, it doesn't look good. Maybe some Australian nomads care to give better explanation on what's going on.
Reports from Sydney Morning Herald.
"A crowd of at least 5000 - overwhelmingly under 25 - took over Cronulla's foreshore and beachside streets. Police were powerless as 200-odd ringleaders, many clutching bottles or cans of beer and smoking marijuana, led assaults on individuals and small groups of Lebanese Australians who risked an appearance during the six-hour protest.
The horde swirled after fleeing individuals, sometimes sweeping past police lines and horses, chasing a quarry who sought safety in restaurants, shops, toilet blocks and ambulances and police vehicles. Some were snatched by police, who stood against the swarm and repelled the most violent with capsicum spray."
posted by Dody G. at 7:53 PM
2 Comments:
Try the Sydney morning herald (http://www.smh.com.au/) for reports.
I grew up in the Sutherland Shire (where the suburb of Cronulla is) and it's a conservative, middle class area on the fringe of Sydney.
It's difficult to explain, but from my experience at school, Shire (no, not hobbits) people are very protective of where they live and their lifestyle.
11:00 PM
I just got back to Sydney on Saturday, and blogged my perspective here. http://arthur.nomadlife.org/
2:08 PM
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