Australian teen eggs official who made controversial statement after mosque attack. Official strikes back

By LU Staff
Australian teen eggs official who made controversial statement after mosque attack. Official strikes back
Teen critic gives raw-egg treatment to Australian Senator Fraser Anning. ABC News video

After the attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand that left 49 people dead and another 40 injured, an elected official in Australia, Senator Fraser Anning of Queensland, issued a statement decrying immigration by Muslims.

Like most Western countries, Australia has had domestic political conflict in recent years over immigration policy.  Anning, an independent, is a member of a “far-right” coalition in the Australian parliament that seeks to tighten immigration policy and standards.

Anning’s statement (tweet below) received prompt and comprehensive backlash on social media.

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Tweeps are celebrating the fact that Twitter found Anning’s statement to have violated Twitter rules.

Few would be surprised that these sentiments from Anning generated outrage.  Agreeing or disagreeing with them is not as certain.

Besides the outraged reactions on social media, however, Anning’s comments drew at least one thumbs-down in person.

The senator was speaking at a media event on Saturday, answering questions about his incendiary statement, when a teenager appeared behind him. The boy listened for a brief period, and then socked the back of Anning’s skull with a raw egg.

The sequence was caught on video.

Anning responded promptly by punching the teen in the face.  A scuffle ensued, in which the men around the two combatants moved in quickly to restrain them.  According to USA Today, “Anning’s supporters held the boy in a choke hold while calling for police.”  The egg-wielding teen was arrested but released a short time later.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has gone on record vowing to censure Senator Anning over his policy statement on immigration and Muslim immigrants.

Meanwhile, Anning’s Twitter critics are weighing in on the egg-and-punch incident from Saturday.  Or rather, let us say, the egg-thrower’s supporters:

https://twitter.com/joe_o_earp/status/1107097536513245184

This tweet suggests “everyone in New York” is expressing support for Egg-Boy by eating an egg sandwich.

Some commentators are pointing out that you shouldn’t actually egg people, even if you deplore what they say.

https://twitter.com/Philosophy_Net/status/1107107733944324101

Plenty of folks out there are bringing their version of serious commentary to the problem.

We’re ready to move on, however.

LU Staff

LU Staff

Promoting and defending liberty, as defined by the nation’s founders, requires both facts and philosophical thought, transcending all elements of our culture, from partisan politics to social issues, the workings of government, and entertainment and off-duty interests. Liberty Unyielding is committed to bringing together voices that will fuel the flame of liberty, with a dialogue that is lively and informative.

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