New Racism and Fear: The Cronulla Riots and Racial Violence in Australia
New Racism and Fear: The Cronulla Riots and Racial Violence in Australia

Summary/Abstract: On 11th December 2005, a violent mob of about five thousand young ‘white’ Australians gathered on the beach at Cronulla, New South Wales. Waving Australian flags, singing Waltzing Matilda and Australia’s national anthem and chanting anti Muslim/immigration slogans, the mob verbally abused and physically assaulted anyone of ‘Middle Eastern appearance’. Some days later, revenge followed: cars full of ‘Middle Eastern appearing’ men and youth sought revenge by smashing cars and shopfronts in Cronulla and by beating local residents (See: Inglis: 2006, Abraham: 2005). In an attempt to prevent further violence and an escalation of the events, an exceptionally large number of police were deployed on the beach in the months ahead.

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