Dear OLO colleagues, I attended the Coburg protest rally this past Saturday in my capacity as roving reporter for an Australian Nationalist blog which few people actually read but which is a big deal for our small editorial group.
I made extensive notes, took photos and video and stayed with the most violent Anti Fascists and Muslim protestors for the whole day, while not a riot as suggested in the media it was an interesting day out for many reasons.
My report:
https://unitednationalistsaustralia.wordpress.com/2016/05/29/a-footloose-nationalist-at-a-patriot-bundle/

Link fixed: http://unitednationalistsaustralia.wordpress.com/2016/05/29/a-footloose-nationalist-at-a-patriot-bundle/

Dear Jay,

Thanks for your link.

From the photographs the entire protest appears somewhat
frightening. So many people. And I don't quite understand
what they were protesting against and what they hoped to
achieve and also why did some wear masks?

What was their aim. And in actual fact - did they succeed
what they had set out to do?

Hi Foxy,
The stated aim of Cr Sue Bolton's rally was to protest offshore processing of illegal migrants, the closure of Aboriginal communities and "Islamophobia", she was urged by Police and local traders to abandon the plan due to the potential for violence and disruption to Saturday shopping but she refused.

The United Patriots Front and their associates decided to counter protest the Bolton rally in order to draw violent Left wing groups to the event with a view to provoking the self styled "Anti Fascists" and local Muslim gangs into riotous behaviour, thus discrediting the many social justice groups who had signed on as sponsors or supporters of Sue Bolton.

As for the masks the two groups wear them for different reasons, the Leftists and Anarchists mask up to hide their identities from police, the right wingers claim that they do so to protect their identities from the Anti Fascists who have been known to track people down and attack them at their homes or places of work.

What was achieved? Well Sue Bolton's rally went ahead though the bulk of the attendees split off to run amok and start fights as described in the article. The patriots also achieved their aim of provoking the far Left into violence and as the news reports today show Sue Bolton and her supporters are in hot water with talk of legal action by local traders.
If anything the UPF were better behaved and showed more respect for the local community by holding their rally in a local park and obeying Police instructions as opposed to shutting down both Sydney road and Bell St as the Left did, ruining the day for locals and depriving businesses of their takings.

In fact only one of the fights involved UPF men, the Left and a gang of Lebanese Muslims rose to their provocation and crashed the police lines, resulting in a short, sharp fistfight which was subdued with OC spray. The other incidents were all a result of attacks on Police by Leftist and Muslim goons.

Dear Jay,

Thanks for explaining and answering my questions.

I have to admit that I don't understand people
resorting to violence and hate speech.

We are willing to label Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, and Idi Amin,
as sub-human zealots - why not those who preach hatred against
others who won't accept the fanatics "views?"

How do we solve these problems? Any ideas?

I dunno Foxy, politics is essentially a group activity and all political groups regardless of the message they are pushing will attract a lawless element who are too thick to be much use aside from punching on at the front of the crowd.
it's not all doom and gloom though.
I can only speak for the Nationalist side but we have some great young guys coming up, they're trying to revive the old Friendly Society and Mechanics Institute style of community organising starting with people under 25, good luck to them too.
I've also met some very intelligent young Marxist Leninists in my travels, good kids really who'll no doubt be open to better ideas as they mature.