Freedom Socialist Bulletin • Number 36 • Summer/Autumn 2007On December 9, 2006, a couple of hundred people gathered outside the Islamic Information and Support Centre in Melbourne's multicultural suburb of Brunswick. The Freedom Socialist Party and Radical Women were among those who responded to an appeal to be there as a defence in case of an attack by white supremacists. Days before, plans for an anti-Muslim provocation at the mosque hit the press. Clearly alluding to the 2005 Cronulla riots, the organisers' purpose was to fan the misogynist, racist nationalism that spurred them. Riddled with references to "Aussie values" and demonising Muslim men as rapists, the PR called for the deportation of three prominent Muslim leaders and the introduction of restrictive citizenship legislation to "weed out extremists." Fascists are not new to Brunswick. Over the past 15 years, FSP and RW have been involved in anti-Nazi organising in the area, each time successfully running these would-be führers out of town. Brunswick is typical of Melbourne's working class neighbourhoods that include young, white men with no prospect of a decent job, who are prepared to accept white, straight, male supremacist explanations for their plight. It's no coincidence that fascists were also involved in the riots on Cronulla beach. Once again, the Nazis chickened out. Several were spotted not far from the mosque but, cowards that they are, they decided not to take on the crowd. As Muslims and non-Muslims socialised, discussions were about the importance of defending each other. People well understood that the Muslim community is the target today, and socialists, feminists, unionists and queers would be next — unless we stop a fascist movement from growing. The strong mood of solidarity on that blazing Saturday afternoon was a good antidote to the 42-degree heat. It will have to stay powerful for the times ahead. |
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