Commentary and research by Scott Balson, Global Web Builders Email GWB
Ian Rintoul, spokesman for the International Socialist Organisation (ISO), said last year after the violent Dandenong protest "We don't condone individual vigilant acts against Hanson supporters," he says. "But we are for militant protests and mass action to close meetings down."
In mid July, after Hawthorn, another ISO leader David Glanz said in a post targeting another One Nation meeting on Left Link, and I quote:
| "Martin Ferguson MP and local Labor candidate Mary Delahunty have been invited to speak." |
David Glanz was to tell "Mike" over the phone on Wednesday 22nd July that both Ferguson's and Delahuny's office had been contacted by ISO over the last two weeks and were sympathetic and that Delahunty was expected to attend the ISO rally at Northcot against One Nation in a private capacity.
The massive turn out of 1500 violent protesters was no accident. It was no spontaneous outpouring of anger against Pauline Hanson's One Nation. It was an event carefully planned by the extremists in the Labor Party movement. Extremists who are violent thugs at best and de-facto criminals for their roles in orchestrating this terrible new trend in Australian politics. At Hawthorn busloads of One Nation supporters were turned away - with only 250 out of 800 braving the violence - and the elderly who had come to the meeting early before the violence began fearing for their lives in the hall while the mob of hooligans ranted and raved outside.
The mainstream media continually try to link One Nation with right wing extremists no matter how slim the thread, how pathetically stupid the reasoning, yet they turn a blind eye to the obvious link between the Labor party and these new age political thugs.
Why? You may well ask. Well I will tell you. In a word it is called backroom "deals". Deals between the mainstream parties and the media barons where a nod and a wink is the basis of biased media reporting and political favours. Is it any wonder that journalists who were, once upon a time held in high regard, are now seen by the public as little more than 'intellectual prostitutes'.
The coverage (or lack of it) of
the Labor party's role in the violence as outlined below will forever stand
as a telling message of this blatant abuse of power and democracy by those
politicians who continually parade as representative of "ethics" and "honest
politics" but who are in reality little more than pawns in a bigger game
controlled by big business.
| "They are a mob of thugs - that's all they are," Wally Dunlop |
One of the guests who braved the crowd made this report.
Meanwhile Victorian One Nation co-ordinator, Robyn Spencer, who also attended said on Channel 9's Today programme, on 20th July "...we saw the ugly side of multiculturalism, the intolerance, the violence and the absolute aggression against old people."
Ms Spencer also accused the police of telling Mrs Hanson lies about her safety - resulting in her non-attendance.
"...they (the police) said that the whole hall was circled by protesters with their arms around each others necks - eight deep. Yet the back of that hall backs straight onto the Hawthorn police station and it was very easy to secure an entrance and an exit for Pauline Hanson. Indeed the 250 who did come mainly came through this entrance.
"The police tried to stop us having our meeting inside the hall.... They read us this statement 'On speaking to the organisers outside the hall they ... they... they're the thugs have given us an undertaking that if the meeting does not proceed they will let us take all your people out.' How dare the police negotiate with the multicultural thugs outside who were preventing freedom of speech, our police are negotiating with them rather than the citizens inside who have a right of association and a right of freedom of speech."
But the question is "Who are they?"
| "It should also
be realised that at different times and places during the last couple of
decades, the Labor party, the Liberals and the Nationals have all been
infiltrated by extremists of the Left or the Right.
"But previously, no one has ever suggested that the answer to these problems was to publish the names of all party members indiscriminately." |
The political thugs behind the co-ordination of the politically correct and layabout hooligans at Hawthorn on Sunday 19th July 1998 are the same as those behind the violence at Dandenong and Geelong last year.
Yes, they represent the extreme
left wing of the Labor Party but you won't read about the link in the
mainstream media. Last year we prepared an
extensive dossier
on Left Link their violent role and then told the media how to access
it. The only resulting article
"Faces
of Violence" completely overlooked the link between the Labor
Party and their extremist thugs who through their actions in today's society
make the much maligned Nazis look like kids playing in the park.
The on-line organisation acting as a front for these thugs is called "Left Link, Victoria's Broad Left Mailing List" and is proudly displayed as a member of the Labor Party's ACTU. It is listed on the ACTU's "links" page.
The mailing list is managed by a business called "The New International Bookshop" at: TRADES HALL (now isn't that a surprise!), corner Victoria & Lygon Sts entrance in Victoria St. Ph: +61 3 9662-3744 fax: +61 3 9662-4755; +61 3 9718-2400.
Left Link is sponsored by a trade union/ politically correct group called SEARCH which provides "grants" to selected organisations....
Their on-line focus for Labor thugs is a popular on-line bulletin board called the "Left Link list". The Left Link mailing lists includes the fringe elements of our society, queers, lesbians and perverts who prey on our young. The sort of people now being canvassed by Laboral (mainstream politics, ie Liberal, Labor, Democrats and National parties). Just check out New International Bookshop's Christmas Catalogue to see what book's the sponsors of Left Link promote.
Now with all this evidence with the Labor party's compromising fingerprints stuck all over the net no journalist dares report on their extreme left wing, real, existing, violent and undemocratic organisations. Why? For the journalists who read this I ask you again why? Where have your code of ethics gone? What about YOUR personal integrity as a journalist to report objectively?
Below I have reproduced three messages on the list posted by familiar names: Militant and Socialist Alternative (see Dandenong and Geelong links above).
In case there is any confusion about the role of Left Link allowing these posts, here is an extract from their own guidelines to posting to this list:
Leftlink guidelines state. Quote: LEFTLINK is a moderated list. This means that extraneous messages such as requests for subscriptions and other messages that do not meet the guidelines are not published.
In other words the moderators decided to promote the violence and undemocratic actions that resulted from participating in posting messages from proven political thugs.
The moderators of the Left Link on-line list are:
You may email them direct from the above links highlighting their names.
Here are the posts placed on the (Labor Party) Left Link list (right below Militant's Stephen Jolly):
1) Subject:
LL:AA: Hanson in Melbourne
From: militant@mira.net
(Militant)
Date: Tue, 14 Jul 1998 22:32:08 +1000
Message-ID: 199807150229.MAA07835@vicnet.net.au
Mailing List: LEFTLINK@vicnet.net.au
Pauline Hanson is speaking at a One Nation meeting this Sunday at Hawthorn Town Hall, 360 Burwood Hwy. A rally has been called for 4pm
Militant PO Box 1015, Collingwood, Victoria 3066,
Australia
Phone: (03) 9650-0160
Fax: (03) 9650-3689
E-mail: militant@mira.net
Web site: http://werple.net.au/~militant
LL.VG
2)
Subject: LL:AA: More on Hanson
meeting Sun 19 July
From: Sandra Bloodworth s.bloodworth@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au>
Date: Tue, 14 Jul 1998 22:43:45 +1000
Message-ID: 199807150229.MAA07854@vicnet.net.au
Mailing List: LEFTLINK@vicnet.net.au
HANSON MEETING
We have just heard from a source inside One Nation that Pauline Hanson will be speaking to an invitation only meeting in Melbourne this Sunday 19 July.
We realise this is short notice but ....here's your chance to demonstrate against everything she stands for.
The demonstration is: 4pm SUNDAY 19 JULY
HAWTHORN TOWN HALL
360 BURWOOD RD near cnr Glenferrie Rd
HAWTHORN
POSTERS AND LEAFLETS WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM THE NEW INTERNATIONAL BOOKSHOP AS FROM WEDNESDAY.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PHONE SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE ON 94277274 or email us.
Please post this on any other lists you are on.
For the authorities having to deal with cleaning up the posters all over town - send the bill to the New International Book Shop at: TRADES HALL, corner Victoria & Lygon Sts entrance in Victoria St.
3)
Subject: LL:REM: anti-hANSON DEMO
From: Sandra Bloodworth s.bloodworth@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 22:08:36 +1000
Message-ID: 199807160207.MAA25711@vicnet.net.au
Mailing List: LEFTLINK@vicnet.net.au
WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF REQUESTS ASKING US TO CONFIRM THAT THE ANTI-HANSON DEMO THIS SUNDAY IS DEFINITELY ON.
IT SEEMS DEFINITE THAT HANSON HERSELF WILL BE SPEAKING AT THE HAWTHORN TOWN HALL. THIS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE LOCAL PROGRESS PRESS NEWSPAPER AND THE BOROONDARRA COUNCIL.
WE HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD BY A SOURCE INSIDE THE COUNCIL THAT THE POLICE HAVE BEEN TO THE HAWTHORN TOWN HALL TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO PROTECT HANSON.
A GROUP OF US WILL BE MEETING 2PM THIS SUNDAY JULY 19 OUTSIDE THE CLOCKS AT FLINDERS STREET STATION BEFORE GOING TO THE DEMO. WE WILL HAND OUT LEAFLETS ADVERTISING THE DEMO AGAINST HANSON AND THEN GO AS AN ORGANISED GROUP ON THE TRAIN TO THE DEMO. IF YOU WANT TO GIVE US A HAND THEN JUST TURN UP.
THE DEMO ITSELF IS ON AT 4PM SUNDAY 19
JULY
HAWTHORN TOWN HALL
360 BURWOOD RD
HAWTHORN
(NEAR GLENFERRIE STATION)
This demo has been called at such short notice, there is no organising committee. This means everyone needs to take responsibility for contacting individuals, groups, unions etc who may be able to get a few people along, and who can bring banners, placards, means of making noise etc. Don't assume anyone you know has been contacted - ring, fax, email them. If anyone can use posters/leaflets, we can fax you a copy if you ring 9427 7274, or pick up a copy at the New International Bookshop, Melb Uni SRC or La Trobe Uni SRC.
DON'T LET HANSON COME TO MELBOURNE WITHOUT A MASSIVE RESPONSE!
Sandra Bloodworth (Socialist Alternative)
Obviously the Labor Party "organisers" think that this is only the start . Here is a copy of a post made to Left Link 20th July:
1998:
Subject: LL:ART: Organiser's report on anti-Hanson demo
From: Sandra Bloodworth s.bloodworth@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 11:34:44 +1000
Message-ID: 199807200232.MAA06872@vicnet.net.au
Mailing List: LEFTLINK@vicnet.net.au
ORGANISER’S REPORT ON ANTI-HANSON DEMO
As one of the people who initiated the successful demonstration that stopped Pauline Hanson from speaking at her meeting in Hawthorn on Sunday I was inspired by the magnificent turn out, given that we had only a few short days to organise it.
Over two thousand anti-racists turned up to protest despite a virtual total media black out on advertising the demo. The ABC banned any mention of the demo on radio because “anti-Hanson demonstrations are political” as the producer of John Fane’s program on 3LO put it to me when I rang to complain about their censorship. So much for “freedom of speech”. Hanson can get her views on national television anytime she likes but anti-racists who want to organise against her are systematically silenced.
The media black out meant we had to rely on word of
mouth, ring arounds, a bit of postering, leafleting, radio 3CR and Left Link
to get the word out. If we had had more time there is no doubt that we would
have had tens of thousands at the demo. The hostility to Hanson was evident
everywhere.
As usual the media went over the top about “violence” at the demo. But as someone who was consistently moving around the crowd, megaphone in hand, trying to co-ordinate the activity of the protestors I saw very little “violence” from protestors. In a tactic copied from the recent MUA struggle we formed a sold picket line around the meeting. People linked arms and formed up to try to prevent the One Nation supporters entering the meeting. Protestors were on a number of occasions attacked and assaulted by some of the One Nation supporters, but we stood our ground. Later on the police made a series of outrageous and unprovoked attacks on the crowd using their horses.
The police galloped their horses up Burwood Road outside the Hawthorn Town Hall knocking over and injuring people who were well away from where any confrontation was taking place. I saw one young woman knocked to the ground right in front of me by a galloping horse, even the Socialist Alternative bookstall which I was standing behind at the time was knocked over by charging police horses!
This police action was clearly aimed at breaking up and demoralising the crowd. But it totally back fired on the police. The demonstrators were not intimidated and stood their ground and the police were forced to admit defeat and Hanson abandoned the meeting. This was an important victory for anti-racists, something we need to build on if we are to turn the tide against the Hansonites. It showed that determined mass action can push back the racists.
We should not be intimidated by press lies about “violence” or their hypocritical chorus about “freedom of speech” from defending the demonstration on Sunday and building further demonstrations. Hanson has more “freedom of speech” than any of us could dream of, all the media and the Liberals want to do is to silence our right to protest against racism. No one has the right to foment racism and go unchallenged. We have seen what has happened in Europe when the racists were allowed to organise without being systematically opposed and demonstrated against. It has led to real violence: the murder of Asian and Turkish migrants, skinhead gangs roaming the streets.
It is no coincidence that in Melbourne where there has consistently been militant demonstrations against One Nation whenever they have tried to organise that their support is lowest. The demonstrations give confidence to anti-racist and to Asian people and Aborigines who are under attack from Hanson and they also serve to make it much harder for One Nation to build up a strong group of active supporters in Melbourne.
We now need to go on from our success on Sunday to build a broader anti-racist movement. We need to put pressure on our trade unions, student unions, Ethnic Community organisations, Aboriginal groups and so on to combine to organise a huge anti-racist demo which takes over the streets of Melbourne like we saw in support of the wharfies during the height of their magnificent struggle.
Mick Armstrong
Socialist Alternative
Do you really need any more proof as to who is behind this? It is the Labor Party.
Finally, here is an extract from Pauline Hanson's maiden speech. So who are the racists?:
| "The distinction
I make is this. A social problem is one that concerns the way in which people
live together in one society. A racial problem is a problem which confronts
two different races who live in two separate societies, even if those societies
are side by side. We do not want a society in Australia in which one
group enjoy one set of privileges and another group enjoy another set of
privileges." Extract from Pauline Hanson's Maiden Speech to Parliament on Tuesday 10th September 1996. |