In Australia, racist violence is nothing new. But emboldened neo-Nazis form a frightening new spectre

"The text messages circulating around Sydney's Sutherland shire in early December 2005 explained precisely the purpose of the gathering. Just a reminder that Cronulla's 1st wog bashing day is still on this Sunday, one read. Chinks bashing day is on the 27th and the Jews are booked in for early January. On Sunday 11 December, more than 5,000 people, mostly young men, swarmed Cronulla beach. They wore Australian flags as capes, they had drawn the Eureka flag on their bodies."

"the catalyst had been a fight between three off-duty lifesavers at North Cronulla beach and a group of eight men of Middle Eastern appearance. The 2GB radio host Alan Jones was outraged as his listeners told stories of the lebs and wogs at the beach, and he said he was in favour of a rally, a street march, call it what you will. A community show of force and urged his listeners to attend."

"in which volatile confrontations culminated with dozens of black-clad men, including known fascists, allegedly attacking people at Camp Sovereignty, a longstanding First Nations protest site in Melbourne's Kings Domain. Three men were charged. The association between Cronulla and the March for Australia isn't entirely accidental. The anonymous TikTok video that called for anti-migrant rallies on 31 August coupled stock footage of Australian flags with news footage from the Cronulla race riots."

Explicit racist text messages circulated in Sydney's Sutherland Shire in December 2005 calling for organized attacks on migrants. On 11 December more than 5,000 mostly young men swarmed Cronulla beach, wearing Australian flags as capes and displaying the Eureka flag, drinking alcohol, chanting, and assaulting non-white people. A confrontation between off-duty lifesavers and men of Middle Eastern appearance served as the catalyst. Radio host Alan Jones urged a community march and encouraged listeners to attend. Police recorded 26 injured, 104 arrested and 285 charges. Memories of Cronulla resurfaced amid neo‑Nazi‑led demonstrations and an anonymous TikTok video used Cronulla footage to promote anti‑migrant rallies.

Read at www.theguardian.com