Print PageThere were frustration, tears and heated exchanges at a community meeting in Logan after a week of racial tension in the community south of Brisbane.
More than 200 Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders turned out to last night's meeting which did not include representatives from the Pacific Island communities.
Riot police had to be called in to Douglas Street at Woodridge to deal with violent clashes between two feuding families and their supporters.
Some speakers said the fighting this week was a misunderstanding.
Others blamed it on long-standing tensions between Aborigines and Pacific Islanders.
The situation has calmed since one family took up a State Government offer to relocate, with assistance from the Housing Department.
Patricia Wharton told the meeting bureaucrats and government public servants are partly to blame for the problems in Logan City.
"To all you government workers who go out there talking for us make sure you are saying the right things," she said.
Brisbane Aboriginal Legal Service Solicitor Terry Stedman said high-ranking police refuse to admit that gangs are a problem.
"I spoke to the officer in charge of Logan Police station and he informed me there was no gang problem in Logan," Mr Stedman.
Mr Stedman said he believes the racism is being driven by gangs of youths.
"Woodridge High School bans the wearing of colours because there is a gang problem," he said.
"There is a gang problem in Logan and it is not being addressed."
The meeting heard that some parents will not let their children return to schools in the Woodridge area after this week's violence.
"My daughter has refused to go to any school in this community," one mother said.
"She is scared that she is going to get flogged just like other people in this street - in this Logan community that has been affected by it."
The only politician at the meeting was the State Member for Woodridge Desley Scott.
