Prime Minister, Victoria Police condemn protester behaviour at CBD rally
Anthony Albanese has condemned “people paying tribute to Nazism” as he confirmed security and intelligence agencies were monitoring the ongoing threat of right-wing extremism.
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Anthony Albanese has condemned neo-Nazi protesters who took to the steps of the Victorian Parliament on Saturday.
The rally became heated when neo-Nazis and anti-racism protesters clashed over new immigration laws.
The Prime Minister said security and intelligence agencies were monitoring the ongoing threat from right-wing extremism.
“There is no place in Australia for the sort of demonstrations that we’ve seen now on a number of occasions here in Melbourne; with people paying tribute to Nazism and evil doctrine that resulted in the mass murder of people on the basis of their religion, on the basis of who they were, on the basis of their sexual preference,” Mr Albanese said.
“The time for tolerance of those matters has long gone.”
Mr Albanese urged people to consider the consequences of the hatred, which he said was rejected “overwhelmingly by all fair minded Australians”.
“Authorities will continue to monitor and we’ll have every support for any recommendation that is put forward by those authorities to the government,” he said.
Arrests made after protestors clash
Two men involved in Saturday’s chaotic clash between neo-Nazis and anti-racism protesters in Melbourne’s CBD have been charged.
A Doreen man, 30, who was pepper-sprayed as police attempted to break up the violence on Saturday afternoon, was charged with theft, attempted theft, assaulting police and resisting police.
The protester, who allegedly stole a body-worn camera from police, was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on June 21.
A 20-year-old Werribee man was also charged on Sunday with assaulting police and discharging a missile during the heated rally outside state parliament.
He is expected to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court at a later date.
The heated scenes erupted outside state parliament as neo-Nazis and anti-racism protesters clashed over new immigration laws.
Victoria Police condemned the appalling behaviour of protesters who faced off at the CBD rally, declaring “hate and prejudice has no place in our society”.
“Like the community, police were appalled at the acts displayed in Melbourne today,” the statement read.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe in our community regardless of who they are.
“We understand incidents of anti-Semitism can leave communities feeling targeted, threatened and vulnerable. Hate and prejudice has no place in our society.”
One police officer was treated at the scene after being exposed to OC spray.
The anti-immigration rally, organised on encrypted messaging app Telegram on Friday, began earlier than expected when counter protesters arrived outside Parliament House about 11.30am.
Controversial media identity Avi Yemini attended the protest with his own personal security, who failed to stop him from being “bonked” on the head with a metal pole.
Yemini was also taunted by a group of masked and black-clothing clad protesters, as his personal security interjected.
Counter protesters blamed federal opposition leader Peter Dutton for enticing neo-Nazis.
Omar Hassan, a spokesperson for the organisers of the counter protest, Campaign Against Racism and Fascism, blamed rhetoric in Peter Dutton’s budget reply speech for emboldening the neo-Nazi demonstrators.
“Blaming immigrants is classic diversionary tactics by Dutton and the far right”, he said.
“The truth is that the cost of living crisis has nothing to do with immigration, and everything to do with the bankers, corporations and landlords who’ve been getting rich while the rest of us struggle.”
“Our demonstration outnumbered them thirty to one, proving yet again that racism and fascism is not welcome in Melbourne, from Dutton or these goons.”
Meanwhile, about 20 neo-Nazis protesters faced-off with anti-racist supporters.
The masked group hoisted an Australian flag into the air and formed a line as counter protesters hurled abuse at them.
The neo-Nazis then moved south along Spring St, before the counter protesters followed and police intervened.
Police swiftly arrested two protesters, while pepper spray was deployed on others.
Social media vision shows neo-Nazis clashing with police as tensions flared before 11am.
The neo-Nazis made their way through Treasury Gardens as counter protesters closed in on the group.
neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell, of the European Australian Movement, appeared to be leading the protest to the northern end of Fitzroy Gardens.
Sewell, who avoided jail over a brutal attack on a Channel 9 security guard, remained silent as the group walked past young families enjoying the sunny day.
Counter protesters were kept at a distance by police, but continued to chant “f*ck racists” at the neo-Nazis as the protest moved along Lansdowne St.
Police temporarily blocked access southbound along Lansdowne St, but sources told the Herald Sun they aimed to keep traffic moving through the area.
A heavy police presence remains outside parliament amid concerns the groups will return.
Earlier, plain-clothed officers were seen stationed along Exhibition St, while police vehicles blocked public transport moving through the eastern end of Spring St.
It is understood the protesters arrived early to crash an another planned CBD protest.
‘Neo-Nazism is alive in Melbourne’
Chair of the Anti-Defamation Commission Dr Dvir Abramovich condemned the protesters, labelling them “agents of evil who dream of an Australian Hitler.”
“Neo-Nazism is alive in Melbourne as white supremacists have declared open season on immigrants,” he said.
“They are trying to insert themselves into the conversation by holding this rally and stoking fear on this issue.”
In a statement, Dr Abramovich called on political leaders to “unequivocally condemn this dangerous rhetoric and for the state government to outlaw the promotion and glorification of Nazism.”
“Such hate-filled rhetoric can have deadly consequences and can act as justification for individuals committing heinous acts of violence”
Last January Dr Ambramovich launched a campaign to criminalise the Nazi salute
The state government announced in late-January that it would move to enact the ban, after a neo-Nazi group attempted to disrupt an indigenous mourning ceremony at Coburg Town Hall on Australia Day.
neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell had also performed the salute outside of a courtroom earlier that month after avoiding jail time for assaulting a Channel 9 security guard.
The state government said in March that it was taking steps towards banning the salute, opposition leader John Pesutto signalled the Coalition would be open to supporting the ban.
CBD declared a ‘designated area’
Victorian police declared the CBD a “designated area” on Saturday, allowing them extra stop and search powers.
The declaration is in place between 7am and 7pm and grants police the ability to search any “person and any thing in the possession or control of the person, or a vehicle for weapons” within the CBD without a warrant.
Police will also be able to request people remove face coverings and direct those who don’t comply to leave the designated area.
It comes as anti-immigration protest organised by neo-Nazis are expected to be met with hundreds of counter-protesters at Parliament House today.
Members of Melbourne’s far-right National Socialist Network have planned a “Stop Immigration Rally” from 12pm on May 13.
It is expected to attract hundreds of counter-protesters from the left-wing Campaign Against Racism and Fascism (CARF) group.
“We are organising (the protest) in opposition to the system’s importation of 715,000 immigrants over the next two years, further exacerbating the housing crisis and ethnic replacement of white Australians in their own suburbs and towns,” the National Socialist Network said online.
“This will be a peaceful and legal demonstration open to all supporters and bystanders who wish to have their voice heard.
“Living space for whites! Stop Immigration!”
The advert was posted on encrypted platform Telegram on Friday morning.
CARF said they planned to gather at state parliament from 11.30am.
“The relationship between mainstream racism and the far right couldn’t be clearer,” CARF organisers said online.
“Their capitalist masters say jump, and the fascists ask ‘how high’.
“It is time for anti-fascists to spring into action. Let’s show up in numbers to prove that Melbourne is an anti-fascist town.”
It comes as a group of neo-Nazis marched, while performing Nazi salutes, outside state parliament house in March.
The controversial rally prompted civil activists to call for the Nazi salute to be made illegal.
Victoria Police said they were aware of a planned protest in Melbourne on Saturday.
“There will be a highly visible police presence in the area to maintain our core focus of ensuring the safety of the community and to keep the peace,” they said in a statement.
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