2005 Cronulla riots

The Cronulla riots were violent riots (English Riots ) that took place in Cronulla, a suburb of Sydney, Australia in December 2005.

Prehistory

The occasion was a press release by the police on 5 December 2005, which turned out to be untenable after an internal investigation. Was reported at the time, the day before were in front of many witnesses on the beach two young lifeguards four attackers confronted that came her appearance from the Middle East and just such mass gain were given, and the two lifeguards surrounded and beaten so badly were they in a hospital were brought. In reality, a group went from three lifeguards at a group of eight young people with ancestry from the Middle East along, resulting in a dispute over mutual eye contact and a brawl these two groups emerged.

Escalation

From the morning of the message to the topic dominated the mass media, and on the next day reported a presenter on the radio of the "good answer" a listener to be received from other municipalities at the station incoming Lebanese by many rockers who " do many good things " would be to allow the " scum " should no longer be tolerated.

On December 8, warned the police of New South Wales, they will not tolerate retaliatory attacks planned for December 11 in Cronulla. On the radio a moderator replied to the objection that there are always two sides, the caller should not distract, because he can not hear any complaints about Christians.

Rioting

On 11 December 2005, 5,000 people gathered in Cronulla, some stormed the station, a train, some attacked and injured and paramedics. The violence began around 13:00 clock after the crowd one man middle eastern appearance saw on the street and chased him. Demonstrators waved flags and shouted Australian nationalist and racist slogans. In addition to physical injuries, there was some significant damage to vehicles and buildings.

The police, which was only about 700 officers on the ground, had not expected such a level of violence and could do nothing to control the situation. Their actions were limited primarily to help protect innocent bystanders. The following Monday, several people were in revenge of Arabic descent minors is injured, smashed shop windows and vehicles damaged.

Reaction

The then Australian Prime Minister John Howard said on the riots: " people because of their race, their appearance, attacking their origin, is completely unacceptable." But he also see no underlying racism in society in the country. Police Minister Carl Scully called the riots " a behavior white superiority thinking".

As Christmas and New Year's Eve stood before the door, two festivals that are like spent in Australia on the beach, there was an enormous public pressure on the authorities to further rioting to stop in other beach- suburbs of the city.

On the following Tuesday, 13 December 2005, decided to give far-reaching rights, which further incidents should be prevented Parliament of New South Wales, the police. The new laws came into effect on Thursday, December 15, 2005, in force and were initially limited to three years.

Main component of the new powers was the right of the police, objects that could potentially be used by potential offenders in further violence to confiscate for up to 48 hours. Special attention was paid to dangerous items (weapons, but also, for example, gasoline cans ) and mobile phones. Even cars of alleged perpetrators could be retained.

For the weekend, on 17 and 18 December 2005, were several thousand police, partially contracted from other states, in Sydney. In addition to Cronulla other neighborhoods in the area and particularly popular beaches have been focused by the police. The traffic on the access roads was controlled. Business owners were advised not to open their shops. Of the new powers has been exercised. The measures were successful. Riots could be prevented not only this weekend. The riots were completely subsided and the following public holidays were at rest, be, albeit with police presence on the beaches, spent.

Follow

In the weeks after the riots occurred in Australian society to debate whether a multicultural society is practicable. Because white Australians described themselves as patriots, for example, a public debate about the widespread national pride in Australia was conducted on the occasion of Australia Day.