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The Anti-Islam Protest In Sydney Was Virtually Over Before It Began

The Anti-Islam Protest In Sydney Was Virtually Over Before It Began
Fairfax

A week ago, NSW Police employee Curtis Cheng was shot dead by a 15-year-old boy outside police headquarters in Parramatta, NSW. The intervening seven days have been filled with rhetoric around radicalised youth, stigmatisation of the Islamic community and sadness.

Today, a group of anti-Islam protestors planned to picket in Parramatta. Streets were blocked off for hours in the CBD, with a reported 75 police deployed to deal with an expected 300-400 protestors.

That number did not come close to being realised.

Incidentally, the website at the bottom of that poster (partyforfreedom.com.au) returns this result and appears to be an unregistered web domain:

However, the few -- very few -- who did mobilise made up for their small numbers in energy and ridiculousness.

For example, take this guy:

Where do you start, really? This guy had, in summary:

  • A luchador wrestling mask of the Australian flag;
  • A hoodie featuring patches of Ned Kelly and the Australian Army; and...
  • 'Such Is Life' and 'Aussie Pride' written in flowing English script; not to mention...
  • The Eureka Stockade flag in the crook of his arm

Huh?

Protestors clutched signs proclaiming “multiculturalism has utterly failed,” “ban Hizb-ut Tahrir now” and “stop muslim and socialist brutality against police”.

While it is unclear which socialist brutality they are referring to, it is less vague what some of their signs are actually made of:

That’s a sign for Pacifico beer. Which isn't from Australia. The irony, seemingly lost on the outspoken few.

Nearly as quickly as it began, the protest dissipated.

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