MORE than 100 police were on hand but not needed at Sunday's Reclaim Australia rally at Newcastle's Foreshore Park.
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Supporters and protesters of the movement gathered in the park with police, the dog squad and riot squad on standby.
Similar rallies were held across the country on the weekend, with five arrested at the Sydney rally and four at the rally in Melbourne.
On its website, Reclaim Australia says it is against radical extremism, including sharia law and Islamic terrorism.
In Newcastle supporters also spoke against halal certification, female genital mutilation and the loss of the farming industry.
They waved Australian flags, sang Advance Australia Fair and shouted the "Aussie Aussie oi oi oi" chant.
Reclaim Australia protesters marched towards the rally, chanting "Muslims are welcome, racists are not".
The protesters were stopped by police marching down Wharf Road and headed towards the park.
The two groups were separated by a patch of grass and a line of police.
Both groups dissipated within two hours of the first speech, with no arrests.
