By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
CASEY Councillor Rosalie Crestani was the MC for Saturday’s Reclaim Australia rally which turned violent when anti-Islam and anti-racism groups attempted to clash across police lines.
The anti-Islam group Reclaim Australia had roughly 50 protesters at its rally on Spring Street, and its numbers grew when another 60-odd supporters from hard-line conservative group the United Patriots Front (UPF) joined the fray, with clashes between these groups and anti-racism protesters.
Police estimated roughly 500 protesters took to the city streets, but authorities made just four arrests – three for riotous behaviour and one person for punching a police horse.
Cr Crestani said she witnessed the violence but didn’t feel personally threatened.
On Wednesday Cr Crestani distanced herself and Reclaim Australia from some of more extreme right-wing protesters, including a man with Nazi tattoos who joined the anti-Islam protesters.
“We can’t stop them from coming but that’s only one person amongst hundreds of us,” Cr Crestani said.
“He has his view. I don’t think he’s speaking the same language as we are and I think he’s actually on the wrong boat, so to speak.”
Cr Crestani said she took a high profile role at the rally because of her concerns about Islam.
Addressing the rally Cr Crestani said, “Freedom of religion does not mean we accept the fundamental ideas of Islam, which do not allow for other religions. So that is why Islam needs reforming or it needs to leave Australia”.
The two opposing crowds were separated by two police lines, with many protesters held back with pepper spray.
Cr Crestani was joined at the rally by controversial pastor Danny Nalliah from Catch The Fire Ministries, whose Rise Up Australia Party ran Cr Crestani as a candidate in last year’s State Election.
Casey Mayor Mick Morland said Cr Crestani’s views were not a reflection of council’s but noted it was her right to front the rally.
“I was surprised that she was fronting the rally but Rosalie is a person of her own convictions, and I know she did not advertise that she was from Casey Council, she was there as an individual and everyone has that right,” Cr Morland said.
“As an Australian, she has the right to speak her own mind and I applaud her for that, whether I agree with her views or not is a different thing.
“She did not represent the City of Casey, she represented herself.”
