Cronulla

1
Cronulla Riots
By Katrina, Eleni Anastasia
2
Contents
December 12
How it began
December 14
What happened
December 15
The Retaliation
Peoples Thoughts
Diary of Events
What people think
December 11
December 11- The evening
What we think
3
How it began
The Cronulla Riots began with a mob disagreement
which took place near the beach front at
Cronulla. On Sunday December 11th , 2005
approximately 5000 people had gathered in an
unorganised protest to reclaim the beach, due
to recently reported incidents of assaults and
inappropriate behaviour by groups of non-locals
said to be Lebanese Muslim youths. In the week up
to the riots, text messages saying This Sunday
every F!_at_! Aussie in the shire, get down to
North Cronulla to help support Leb and Wog
bashing day. Were sent around Sydney and even
reaching people in Queensland.
4
What Happened
The crowd initially assembled without incident at
North Cronulla. Violence broke out after a large
group of mostly white people chased a Middle
Eastern man into a hotel. The fight then became
widespread. Due to this, a number of police,
ambulance officers and members of the public that
looked to be Lebanese were attacked.
5
The Retaliation
The nights that followed the riots saw the
retaliation by people of Lebanese background.
Cronulla and other suburbs throughout the
southern Sydney metropolitan area were
vandalised and witnessed lots of violence. A
police lockdown occurred along the beaches of
Sydney and surrounding areas.
6
Diary of Events
7
December 11
On Sunday December 11th 2005 before the outbreak
of violence a crowd of around 5000 people had
gathered at Cronulla beach. Most of the people
looked to be from Anglo or other European
backgrounds. Throughout the day 13 people were
injured. Some people wore clothing with slogans
such as Wog Free Zone, Aussie pride,F
Allah. there were also chants pf Lebs out,
Lebs go home. After a few hours without direct
confrontation the atmosphere rapidly turned to
violence.
8
December 11-The evening
Following the confrontations at the beach earlier
in the day, there were reports that a number of
people traveling in groups were heading to the
beach side suburbs of Sydney . Around 200
carloads of men of Middle Eastern appearance
approached the beachside suburbs at around 1045
pm. Through the remainder of the evening, cars
and windows in Maroubra and Rockdale were
vandalised. Several reports of property damage at
the Rockdale railway station. One man was stabbed
in the back when assaulted by a gang of ten men,
said to be of Middle Eastern appearance. By 100
am, reports of violence had also spread to
Brighton Le Sands, where police wearing riot gear
sectioned off Bay Street in a confrontation with
a crowd.
9
December 12th
On Monday December 12th a police strike force
was established to track down the people
responsible for the riots, using video and photo
evidence. There were reports of new text messages
circulating, leading to concern over fresh
violence at Cronulla. Later on that night it was
reported that around a thousand people were
gathered outside Sydneys Lakemba mosque.
Residents claimed they were there to defend the
mosque against attacks from Southern gangs.
10
December 14
On the morning of December 14th local media
reported that SMS messages indicating about
further riots, were being sent to mobiles in
Victoria and Queensland. On this night, during a
Christmas carols service at a primary school,
drive-by shots were fired into cars and parents
were verbally abused. Four churches in Sydneys
South-West were also attacked this evening.
11
December 15
On the 15th of December, police increased their
activity on the Sydney streets and searched for
individuals. A couple were attacked at a
restaurant and suffered from facial and head
injuries.
12
People's Thoughts
13
What people think
Athena from NSW quoted Shame on all you idiots
that participated in the rioting mobbing crap,
whether you are Aussie or of Middle-Eastern
descent." people should not be singled out by
others because they look like they might be a
trouble maker or of Arab descent. Hasret from
Victoria quoted The attacks against people of
Middle- Eastern appearance on Sunday were
disgusting. These people, who claim they are
defending the Aussie way of life are lower than
scum. It is sparked by ignorance.
14
Dazz from NSW quoted Australia isnt a racist
country? Who the hell is John Howard kidding? The
current Governments policies have ensured that
Australians with an ethnic background are seen as
non-Australians. Ive heard numerous comments
from people claiming that ethnic immigrants
should leave their culture behind them yet most
white Australians dont seem to want to leave
their English or Irish heritage behind. Anthony
from NSW quoted If ethnic groups feel they are
being accepted why dont they show more of a
presence in the Australian community and
Volunteer for such jobs as lifesavers. Support
your community and your community will support
you.
15
What We Think
We believe that racism is very wrong and that all
cultures should mix together happily. If everyone
was against racism the world would be a much
happier place. We should all respect and accept
different cultures and religions. We should
learn to live together as one. Australia is a
multi-cultural country, we are very luck to have
lots of different people from different cultures.
We should all put our differences aside and learn
from each other.