A rally urging Sydney University students to vote ‘no’ in the same-sex marriage survey turned violent after hundreds of ‘yes’ campaigners launched a counter-protest.
The ugly scenes unfolded after a stall was set up by the university’s Catholic society, with some holding signs which read: ‘It’s OK to vote ”no”.’
But the dozen or so ‘no’ campaigners were quickly outnumbered as a large crowd gathered and began shouting pro-gay marriage slogans into a megaphone.
A rally urging Sydney University students to vote ‘no’ in the same-sex marriage survey turned violent after hundreds of ‘yes’ campaigners launched a counter-protest
‘We will fight, we will win, put the bigots in the bin’ and ‘hey hey, ho ho, homophobia has got to go’ were some of the chants heard on Thursday.
Video shows a brief physical altercation after a marriage equality advocate appeared to throw glitter over a member of the Catholic society.
‘Go f*** yourself. Go w*** yourself off at home with your f****** Jesus picture,’ one ‘yes’ campaigner was heard saying.
‘I wish I could kick you in the f****** face. That would be so satisfying.’
The dozen or so ‘no’ campaigners were quickly outnumbered as a large crowd gathered and began shouting pro-gay marriage slogans into a megaphone. Above, the two sides clash during a brief physical altercation
The ugly scenes unfolded on Thursday afternoon after a stall was set up by the university’s Catholic society, with some holding signs which read: ‘It’s OK to vote no’. Those promoting a ‘no’ vote claimed they were abused by the counter-protesters
Protesters from both sides later took to social media to voice their disapproval.
”’YES” voters put their idea of ”free speech” on full display at Sydney University today,’ one wrote on Twitter.
‘As someone present, I was truly disgusted at the treatment peaceful VOTE NO supporters were subjected to.
‘Kicked, pushed, banners broken and sworn at, along with general abuse, were just some of the many displays of ”Love’ and ”Tolerance” we were treated to.’
A campaigner promoting a ‘yes’ vote appears to run away with a sign reading: ‘It’s OK to say ”no”
‘Go f*** yourself. Go w*** yourself off at home with your f****** Jesus picture,’ one ‘yes’ campaigner was heard saying
Some protesters wrote messages on the university’s pavement during the heated protest
University of Sydney Queer Action Collective released a statement following the altercation.
It claimed some of those at the stall equated homosexuality to paedophilia and beastiality.
‘The counter-protest was organised within thirty minutes of queer students on campus seeing, and reporting the stall to the collective,’ the statement read.
‘We immediately mobilised and arrived at the stall with a megaphone, which we were very quickly joined by 200 supporters.
Video shows a brief physical altercation after a marriage equality advocate appeared to throw glitter over a member of the Catholic society
University of Sydney Queer Action Collective released a statement following the protest, saying they were exercising their ‘freedom to speak and de-platform the No campaign’
‘We stayed, chanted and spoke to the stall, exercising our freedom to speak and de-platform the No campaign.’
The statement continued: ‘The Queer Collective do not, in any way, regret the actions taken yesterday to shutdown the No campaign at Sydney University.’
A New South Wales Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia officers were called to the protest after reports of an altercation.
There were no reported injuries and no arrests were made, police said.
A New South Wales Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia officers were called to the protest after reports of an altercation
There were no reported injuries and no arrests were made, police said of the incident