Police gas Sydney protesters

[Bosonic]

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Police have used tear gas on Sydney protesters who swept through the CBD as world-wide demonstrations triggered by a US film portraying the prophet Muhammad as a womaniser and paedophile reached Australia.

Up to 500 protesters stormed through the city as protesters worked their way through Pitt Street before moving to Hyde Park amid a heavy police presence.

The crowd carried signs saying "Behead all those who insult the prophet".

Paramedics attended to several protesters suffering from the effects of tear gas. Police have begun arresting people in Hyde Park amid violent confrontations with protesters.




Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/police-gas-sydney-protesters-20120915-25yrb.html

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[Tx4obama]

1. Hmmm...

Article says:

Abdullah Sary, a speaker at the protest, said the protesters came in peace and were disappointed police used tear gas and the dog squad.

I think someone needs to explain to that person (and to all the people) that carrying signs that say: "Behead all those who insult the prophet" -- is NOT coming in peace.

[cstanleytech]

2. Probably meant to say "we come for pieces, preferably the head." ?

But anywayyyy I get ya, its alot like how some pro lifers dont mind committing murder on doctors who perform abortions or they are pro life but also pro death penalty.

[freshwest]

11. Yep, more Pro-Life, God's Little Helpers killing. Good point, but still you must be...

[freshwest]

12. The signs are illogical. A dead prophet can't hear insults. It's just wanting a fight.

We don't know if the people carrying the signs can read what was written. This seems to be intentionally inciting the Anglosphere. They are being used in a political game or they know what they are doing and refuse, like all cult members, to listen to anyone else's POV. That's classic brainwashing technique used by Fox and Beck.

Threatening to kill in such a grotesque fashion, is not 'Coming in Peace.' This almost seems staged to make these folks look like blood-thirsty morons. Sounds like the Muslim version of 'kill 'em all, let God sort it out' or 'hunting down liberals with dogs' RW filth. Which I say, despite the differnces in style or personages, is the exact same thing in the end. Saying someone else has to be removed from their thought world by death.

[freshwest]

3. Such sentiments of peace and love are often epic fails. Next time, use better slogans.

[Drunken Irishman]

4. Nothing says 'we come in peace' like a beheading...

[Swagman]

5. something very fishy about this film and it's producers

I would think many Sydney police are from the ME and Muslim so not sure why this demo got out of hand.

[anAustralianobserver]

17. I'd like to find out more which groups were involved and

why quite a few of the protesters around the 'Behead...' signs appeared not to object to them.

[Marksman_91]

6. You know, the more I see of these protests...

the more it is clearer that Muslims need to get a better grip of the situation concerning their extremists. I understand most Muslims want peace, but come on, how can there be SO many that are just blatantly ignorant and get pissed off so easily for insulting their prophet? Hell, the ones in that video live in freaking Australia, and they still don't grasp the fact that the anti-Muslim film was the act of a few that do not represent the sentiments of many? They get all pissed off when some Americans generalize Muslims as war-mongering people, so they think they have the right to generalize all Americans as infidels? I know extremists are a minority in any religion, but damn it, Muslims sure as hell have the biggest minority of extremists in their ranks, which really worries me. And shouting shit like "We love Osama" in unison sure as hell doesn't help their case, especially considering they're in a Western country and all.

[riderinthestorm]

8. Good point. This isn't a 3rd world country who are ignorant of the facts. These are Australians

who know the facts and STILL act like this.

I've been watching post after post on DU that those "other" cultures are just soooooo different and bombed and abused and misunderstood and so while their protests aren't exactly great, we should at least "understand" why they may have gone off the deep end.

But Australia? There have been protests in Indonesia and the US as well - no way are these folks simply misinformed by their radical imams.

Welcome to DU Marksman!

[dharmamarx]

10. No I don't think it's true that...

"Muslims sure as hell have the biggest minority of extremists in their ranks." The most significant group of people supporting Israeli colonialism in the West Bank and Gaza are American Christians. Those Christians should be categorized as "extremists," and my hunch is that they are a larger percentage of the American Christian community than are those sections of the Muslim community supporting "beheading" the jerk who made this film. Furthermore, we have no idea how many of the people at these protests would support (presumably extra-legal) "beheading" of the filmmaker. I suspect that a lot of the people attending and sympathizing with these protests are simply disgusted with dominant US culture (which is becoming the hegemonic global culture) and with US foreign policy. Those are not necessarily "extremist" positions.

[freshwest]

14. I don't think it's anymore possible for 'Muslims to get in control' of these guys anymore than...

Run of the mill, average Christians or Americans are able to 'get in control' of right wing militia killers, abortion clinic bombers, people who hunt and beat up gays, or the Teabaggers and right wingnuts who have pursued, threatened and destroyed political discussions in this country. At one time those countries had more secular and tolerant societies.

At one time we did, too. These people are being egged on, here and there, by groups that demand authoritarian control over others. They act in criminal ways here and there, and are organized into cults or gangs that their neighbors are afraid of, so much they move away as secular authorities are diminished and communities destroyed.

Most Americans don't want to kill others for their belief in political parties or religion, but they simply feel they have to escape the violence and not get involved. I suspect that is what is going on there, as well.

That's when law enforcement or the military is called to seek order for the majority, which will also be decried as violent and oppressive and the cycle continues.

[anAustralianobserver]

7. Those 'behead' sign guys have made a lot of trouble and are now the face of this

anti-film protest in Australia.

I only hope they are quickly and visibly denounced by Muslim leaders here.

Incidentally, WHAT DOES THIS FILM OR PROTEST HAVE TO DO WITH AUSTRALIA??

[ProgressiveProfessor]

9. Location?

[anAustralianobserver]

18. It was in the middle of the Sydney CBD. I don't think it was at a US embassy.

I'm still baffled about it.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

13. Good. With signs like that, it was bound to turn violent. nt

[pscot]

15. Behead all those who carry signs

saying behead all those who insult the prophet. I mean, that's only fair, innit?

[anAustralianobserver]

16. "Islamic groups condemn violent Sydney protest"

It was good to see this follow-up story and vid.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-16/islamic-groups-condemn-violent-sydney-protest/4263884