2005 Sydney race riots - Background and analysis - Encyclopedia II

On Sunday 4 December 2005, a group of male youths of presumed Lebanese descent were playing soccer on a Cronulla beach when the North Cronulla surf lifesavers are reported to have asked them to stop, as it was disturbing other users of the beach. The response from the youths was allegedly: "Get off our beach. This is our beach. We own it." Gerard Henderson, columnist at The Sydney Morning Herald, alleges that the surf lifesavers then provided the youths with "a degree of verbal provocation", and "reminded the south-western suburb inhabitants that they could not swim". ^[28] Shortly thereafter three surf lifesavers (aged 15, 19 and 20) were confronted by initially four, and then later up to twelve individuals, and in the process were allegedly assaulted. Not all of those present were directly involved in the mêlée, and several of the larger group were reported to have attempted to break up the altercation. ^[29] Youths of Lebanese descent were alleged to be the culprits, but police say there was no apparent racial motive behind that assault. ^[30][31]. A teenager was later charged with assault in company occasioning actual bodily harm [32].

Reports of sexual harassment and intimidation of female beach-goers by groups of Lebanese youths subsequently emerged. [33]. The ensuing print and media coverage also included accounts of similar, prior complaints in the area from members of the general public over a period of several years. There are unsubstantiated claims that racist sentiment towards Lebanese youths is still running high in the area, following a number of Gang Rapes elsewhere in Sydney over three years earlier.

Throughout the following week, from Monday 5 December to 10 December 2005, tensions rose as the wider public became aware of the confrontations through extensive print and media coverage and other means:

• An SMS text message was circulated urging retaliation. The text message encouraged "Aussies" to take revenge against "Lebs and Wogs", and said "Bring your mates and let's show them that this is our beach and they are never welcome". It encouraged meeting on Sunday 11 December. [34] The SMS message, and its content, was widely disseminated through talkback radio, national television programming and other media.
• On 7 December there were ongoing stories in the media about people who had been harassed and assaulted at Cronulla beach by Lebanese groups [35].
• On Thursday 8 December, the Premier of New South Wales (NSW), Morris Iemma, urged people not to take the law into their own hands [36].
• Throughout the week, Sydney radio personality Alan Jones, known for his inflammatory comments, repeatedly read out the infamous SMS on air, while 2UE host Steve Price urged a "community show of force". [37] [38]
• On Saturday 10 December, Cronulla beach was unusually deserted despite the summer heat, and under-18 volunteers were relieved from local lifesaver patrols ^[39].

Beach-related violence is a phenomenon that has existed since at least the early 1960s, when the fights were between "westies" and "surfies". The book (and later film) Puberty Blues describes the violence of the local surfing culture. [40] Unlike most Sydney beaches, Cronulla is serviced by a rail station, making it a popular destination for beach-goers who live further away.

In April 2005, the NSW Parliament member for Cronulla Malcolm Kerr spoke to the legislative assembly about law and order problems in that suburb, including a riot in the mall on Australia Day [41].

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Background and analysis", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page