Sick tribute to Dezi Freeman amid huge turnout for ‘March for Australia’ rally in Adelaide’s Rundle Park
A man was spotted at Sunday’s “March for Australia” protest in Adelaide holding a placard in tribute to the fugitive alleged cop killer Dezi Freeman, as three people were arrested at the rally.
A man holding a placard featuring a picture of alleged cop killer Dezi Freeman, the presence of neo-Nazis and three arrests “undermined” the message of the controversial Adelaide “March for Australia”, its organiser has said.
A protester carried the sign – which featured the words “Free Man”, along with a Southern Cross symbol and black-and-white photo of the fugitive gunman – along the Rundle Park to Peace Park route in the CBD.
The man refused to speak to The Advertiser.
It comes as Freeman’s wife on Sunday begged her fugitive husband to hand himself in.
Issuing a statement through her lawyer on Sunday, Amalia Freeman told the media she and her children stood with police, and urged anyone who could be helping Freeman evade capture to contact authorities.
The placard holder was among more than 15,000 people who have gathered in Rundle Park for the controversial “March for Australia” event, which has been labelled an anti-immigration protest.
Tensions between the police and those in the rally were tested with pushing and shoving as the crowd reached its destination at Peace Park. A man also was escorted by police out of the park.
Three people were arrested throughout the duration of the rally.
The arrests included two men on East Tce, both aged 32, from Andrews Farm and Salisbury East, for allegedly wearing articles of disguise and failing to state personal details.
A 23-year-old Christie Downs man was also arrested at Peace Park for allegedly assaulting police.
All three men were bailed to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on October 20.
The crowd began marching just before 12.30pm chanting “f**k you Albo, f**k you Labor” and “Albo’s a wanker”, along with “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie”, “United we are one”.
Dylan Brady, 33, who was marching with an Australian flag, denounced the sign in support of Freeman.
“That’s not on, that’s not what we’re about,” Mr Brady, said.
He said the sign “absolutely” detracted from the purpose of the rally.
“I got friends trying to buy houses and they can’t compete,” said Mr Brady of his reason for marching.
He claimed immigration was the reason for housing issues.
Vikki Rowe, from Belair, said “Australia has to stand up for itself”. “We don’t get a say about anything anymore,” Ms Rowe, 57, said.
It was a sea of Australian flags. Matt Jennings, 33, was at the rally with his three-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter.
“Government need to change and look at what they’re doing to the country,” Mr Jennings, from Evanston, said.
“It’s not that lucky to live here anymore.”
His main concerns were housing affordability and taxes.
“We need to lower taxes,” he said.
The rally, which started about 12pm at Rundle Park, was one of several planned across the country.
A man, who identified himself as Josh, from the National Socialists Network, took to the stage and spoke to the crowd before the microphone was cut.
The crowd then chanted “let him speak”.
“If we question, they call it hate, I do hate,” Josh said to the crowd. “I hate what they’re doing to us, I hate that they’re trying to replace us.”
Event organiser Mark Aldridge denounced messages in support of Dezi Freeman and National Socialism.
“They were a minute off full on violence,” he said of the presence of neo-Nazis at Peace Park.
Mr Aldridge said the event became “very uncomfortable” when one of the organised speakers was replaced by the self-identified National Socialist.
They “got up and tried to take over the rally”, he said.
“Their messaging wasn’t in line with anything I would have allowed,” Mr Aldridge said.
“It was racial hatred, we don’t need that here.
“Those sorts of people is what undermined the messaging of the day.”
He described the end to the rally as “a real shame”.
“I didn’t want anyone speaking that was going to attack migrants themselves which is what we just saw,” Mr Aldridge said.
When asked why the crowd were chanting “let him speak” at the self-identified National Socialist, Mr Aldridge said the group “had a lot of people here”.
“I suspect it was those supporters that were doing that,” he said.
“Maybe, just maybe, some other people in the crowd wanted to hear what he had to say.
“They weren’t sure whether he was a speaker or not.
“It was a very confusing moment.”
Organisers have used social media to urge supporters to join and march against what they describe as “endless migration” and “weak leadership.”
Police were on high alert ahead of the rally as a spokeswoman said “sufficient” resources would be deployed to minimise disruption.
Earlier in the week, Premier Peter Malinauskas warned against “those who weaponise race to sow seeds of division”.
“Thankfully, the overwhelming majority of South Australians know we are better than that,” he said.
Capital cities across Australia are seeing anti-immigration marches and counter protests on Sunday afternoon.
The planned action comes just weeks after the Sydney Harbour Bridge was shuttered by an anti-war march calling for action to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
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