'None of us ever want to see that again': Cronulla locals whose streets were overrun by violent thugs during 2005 riots are terrified ahead of planned 'memorial' event
- Party For Freedom have organised a 'memorial' for 2005 Cronulla riots
- Residents and business owners fear event could escalate out of control
- Police have committed over 200 officers to contain crowds on Saturday
- Car parks will be shut down and locals have been advised to stay away
- Up to 2000 people are expected to attend, in support and in protest
Locals of Cronulla beach, where violent racial clashes between 'Anglo' and Middle Eastern Australians broke out 10 years ago, have voiced their fears about a 'memorial riot' planned for Saturday.
Sydney's Sutherland Shire residents met with police and council on Thursday night to raise their concerns about the ten year anniversary of the 2005 Cronulla riots event, organised by far-right wing group Party for Freedom.
Paul Degan, a 49-year-old tool manufacturer who has lived in the area all his life said he was very nervous about the event, which police are expecting up to 2000 people to attend.
'We're all paranoid. We all saw the result of the last one and none of us ever want to see that again,' Mr Degan told Daily Mail Australia.
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Local Cronulla residents Paul Degan (left) and Sharon Peaty (right) are fearful of the 'memorial riots' planned near their homes this weekend
Nick Folkes, the organiser of the event, has been in court three times this week as police try to take an injunction out to stop his memorial riot, which originally involved him carrying a coffin through Cronulla and symbolically 'burying multiculturalism' at the beach.
Mr Folkes claims to be an advocate for free speech, but Sharon Peaty, a local business owner, said it wasn't a matter of free speech.
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'These people go on about their freedom of speech, but is it really freedom of speech if a whole community shuts down so they can speak?'
Police, who were criticised for their lack of control on the 2005 riots, have told locals that 'this time is different' and they are more than prepared.
In excess of 200 police are expected in the sleepy beach suburb, including dogs, horses and a riot squad.
For locals though, this isn't enough to ease their worries.
A tense confrontation during the Cronulla riots which broke out ten years ago and resulted in violent attacks on Middle-Eastern Australians
A decade ago this week Glen Steele (left) screamed at the crowd gathered on the beach that 'our grandfathers fought to protect' Cronulla Beach and that 'we don't need these Lebanese or wogs to take it away from us'
Community members recounted tales of their cars being smashed and their homes being surrounded by out of control louts in 2005.
Already, restaurant owners are reporting mass cancellations for Saturday night as people retreat in fear.
For Mr Degan, the ultimate goal of most residents is for everyone to forget about the events of December 2005.
'We don't want to be the epicentre of racism', he said.
'I think the locals are a lot more educated now. The idea of the bogan young boy that paints all Muslims or ethnics with the same brush is now ten years older and has a family.'
Ms Peaty agrees with him.
'In the last year, five years even, you don't see people coming down in groups and bashing each other,' she said.
Police officers hold a man at Cronulla beach in Sydney in 2005
A crowd gathers outside 'Northies Hotel' at Cronulla after a man was chased inside on December 11, 2005
'There is no race problem in Cronulla as far as I'm concerned – it doesn't exist.'
While the area has become heavily gentrified in the last year, with luxury apartment developments and fine dining restaurants lining the streets, the tight-knit community remains the lifeblood of the town best known for just the opposite.
Mr Degan said there was a friendly culture in Cronulla, and most people either knew or knew of, each other.
'We try to buy locally and support our community – we'll always spend locally before we'll buy elsewhere if we can. I think most people are like that.'
Nick Folkes reiterates his plans to go ahead with his rally to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Cronulla Riots stating that a negative outcome in court would just mean a lack of police protection
Folkes condemned both the influence of Islam and leftist groups in Australia as he spoke on Thursday
Nick Folkes, the organiser of the event, has been in court three times this week as police try to take an injunction out to stop his memorial riot
But that isn't to say those from 'across the bridge' are unwelcome.
'We welcome visitors; we welcome anyone to come in. A lot of our business is built on that traffic,' Ms Peaty said.
While the residents of Cronulla would prefer to let December 12 go by without a sound, Mr Degan had an idea of how he would have marked it.
'Let's all pull our barbeques out and roll them on to the street. I'll buy a bunch of food – I don't mind I'll get halal meat if I have to – we'll put them up and down the Kingsway and invite every ethnic from wherever to come down to Cronulla and prove that we're very accepting locals.
'They can have a barbeque on us and let's not have the angst. We're humans at the end of the day. We're not Muslims or Christians or Lebanese or Jewish. We're from planet earth, let's get this sh*t together, it's ridiculous.
'I know it's not that simple, but geez it'd be nice.'
Superintendent Michael O'Toole spoke that the Police's concerns regarding the proposed 'celebrationary' rally were about public safety, law and order
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