Thursday, June 11, 2009

Protests in the News

This week there have been protests by Indian students in the streets of Harris Park. I've collected some urls for news clippings I've come across. All the articles, to me at least, make it sound worse than things really are. Personally I don't think the attacks were racially based, just opportunistic, as is found in many suburbs and in fact, every country. I think it's easy to play the 'racial' card especially when the media takes hold of the catchphrase - sensational 'journalism' as some of the headlines below suggest. But I'm sure there are people living here who think they are being targeted. That's not a nice way to feel. The past couple of nights there have been many police cars patrolling the streets as I've walked home - I wonder how long this will last. On Thursday the police handed out informational leaflets at the train station.


the stories didn't seem very popular in Australian media - and only lasted a few days, but even the Prime Minister had something to say about it. there is already an "2009 attacks on Indian students in Australia" page on wikipedia, although it is marked for deletion and there is currently a debate about whether the page should be deleted or renamed or some of the wording changed.

in no particular order - Australian & Indian & International media articles:
Indian student suffers 30 degree burns in petrol bomb attack
Harris Park violence going on for years
Harris Park youtube videos
Have the attacks on Indian students hurt Australia's image?
Racism with indian student at harris park sydney
PM calls for calm over Indian attacks
INDIA: Students told not to hit back
Fresh attack on students in harris park - two assailants nabbed
Police arrest Indian protestors
Police reject claim Indian man abducted
Do you think the recent violent attacks on students were racially motivated?
Australia safe for students - P.M.
Indians say car burn out was a hate-crime
Indian student recounts Sydney attack
Soft target Indian students display strength of unity
Australian PM urges calm - warns off student vigilantes
Some attacks on Indians are racial - Australian cop admits
We're even more racist
Tensions erupt in racial melting pot
AM: Di Bain talks to an Indian restaurateur who doesn't think recent attacks on students are racially motivated.
Retaliation fears grow as students watch their backs
SBS World View program : Hot Seat forum on tackling violence against Indian students - Wed, Jun 03 2009

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