Third man charged after wild clash between protesters outside Belfield church, apologises

One of three men charged is “very apologetic if my message turned very harmful” after he posted pro-Christian rants to social media ahead of a violent clash outside a Sydney church.

One of the men charged over a violent clash between pro-Christian supporters and LGBTQ protesters at a south west Sydney church has publicly apologised for his involvement.

Protesters gathered outside St Michael’s church in Belfield where One Nation politician Mark Latham was speaking on religious freedoms and parental rights.

Christian Sukkar, 34, was charged with encourage the commission of crimes, which he believes is related to a video he posted before the event

He told the ABC on Thursday he did not touch or hit anyone during the protest.

“I’m very apologetic if my message turned very harmful … if they took my comments as an incitement of hate,” he said.

Christian Sukkar has been charged.

Charlie Garcia has also been charged after the Belfield protest.

In the video, Mr Sukkar said: “You go there tomorrow and you f**king shake them up, and you drag them by the f**king head, and you remove them from St Michael’s, Belfield. Time to rise, time to let them know where we stand”.

Mr Sukkar said the video, which was only intended for “a couple of boys”, had been blown out of proportion and was not meant to be taken literally.

‘JUST SINGING THE SONG’

“I was just singing the song,” he said. “When you watch these rappers … they don’t literally mean go shoot up, go knock people out, it’s just a song.”

Mr Sukkar was one of three men charged on Tuesday, a day after they and hundreds of others confronted a small group of Community Action for Rainbow Rights (CARR) outside a speaking event for One Nation politician Mark Latham on parental rights and religious freedom.

Mr Sukkar, 34, and Charlie Garcia, 41, were arrested. Sukkar was charged with encourage the commission of crimes, while Garcia — a real estate agent — is charged with common assault.

Three people have been charged after hundreds of people clashed outside a Belfield church.

Hundreds of pro-Christian supporters confronted a small group of Community Action for Rainbow Rights activists outside the church.

As police continued their inquiries, Adam Richard Touma, 41, presented to Campsie Police Station on Wednesday night and was charged with assault police officer during public disorder no actual bodily harm, hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty and affray.

Sukkar has been a regular at protests in recent times, including outside the funeral of Cardinal George Pell in January.

“I believe I’m a natural born leader,” Sukkar previously wrote on Facebook after one protest.

“My father told me to fight for what I believe in, what my ancestors fought for. People may laugh people might call me a fool but I believe in my heart I’m doing the right thing and I’m fighting for the truth and justice.”

The incident unfolded after CARR protesters turned up outside St Michael The Archangel church at Belfield.

A spokesperson for the church said the violence appeared to start after the pro-transgender demonstrators broke a crucifix and attempted to set it on fire.

“To our knowledge a crucifix was deliberately broken and there was the attempt to set it on fire by members of the left wing activist group that came to protest out on the street in front of the parish property,” the spokesperson said.

“This was to our knowledge what actually started the violent outburst.”

“We condemn all the violence that occurred and we were appalled and deeply hurt by anyone who showed aggression or hate. The night was meant to be a peaceful sharing of views but unfortunately was ruined by what we gather are professional troublemakers.”

A spokesperson for CARR denied any of their protesters destroyed a crucifix.

Sukkar and Touma were granted police bail to appear in Bankstown Local Court on April 11, 2023.

Garcia was also granted bail and is due to face the same court on May 30.