Brawl erupts at Halal food festival in Australia

A brawl erupted today at a Halal food festival here when a group of anti-Islam protesters clashed with anti-racism activists, marring the Australian city's reputation as a multicultural capital.
The brawl at the community event attended by several families at the Melbourne Showgrounds left one person with a suspected broken eye socket. He was admitted to a hospital.
The fight came as hundreds of people filled Federation Square as a counter protest to the anti-Islamic movement, which was put back in the spotlight when a United Patriots Front "stop the mosques" banner was unveiled at the Collingwood AFL game on Friday night, the Age newspaper reported.

The brawl began in Ascot Vale suburb when about 30 far-left protesters wearing black clothing and balaclavas swarmed the far-right protesters and other anti-Halal activists, who had been picketing the Halal expo, it reported.
Demonstrators on both sides threw punches during the scuffle outside the venue before police moved in.
Multicultural Affairs Minister Robin Scott said everyone has the right to protest, but it had to be peaceful and respectful.
"Violent conduct is completely unacceptable and has no place in our community," he said.
The race and religion protests in Melbourne came only weeks after the Moomba festival was marred by rioting youths, which had triggered a debate about multiculturalism.