Battle on for Cronulla 'rebellion' event

Far-right political activists are locked in a Supreme Court battle over plans to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Cronulla riots.

The NSW Commissioner of Police has launched a last-minute court action to prevent the Party for Freedom from going ahead with a memorial event of what the group's chairman, Nicholas Folkes, dubbed a "rebellion".

Next Friday marks the anniversary of a riot that made headlines around the world and sparked waves of violence across Sydney's southern beaches in summer 2005.

Tensions simmered after two volunteer surf lifesavers were assaulted when they responded to complaints that young men of Middle Eastern appearance were insulting girls on the beach in the Sutherland Shire.

A week later, thousands rallied in Cronulla and people of Middle Eastern appearance were violently assaulted.

Violence and retribution echoed across the region for days and 100 people were charged.

Arriving for court on Friday afternoon, Mr Folkes became drawn into a verbal altercation with a member of the public.

A small crowd gathered as Mr Folkes denied he was a "racist" or a "fascist".

But he has also resisted describing the 2005 clash as a "riot".

"It was a rebellion," Mr Folkes told another man on the steps of the Supreme Court.

"You stand up for terrorism and terrorists, and people who rape Australian girls."

One of the country's most prominent silks, Ian Temby QC, will appear for the commissioner when the dispute returns to court for an 11th-hour hearing on December 10.