Victoria Police vow to keep attending future Midsumma Pride Marches

Police say they have not been spooked by protesters at the Midsumma Pride March and are determined to keep participating in future marches.

Victoria Police have vowed to return to the annual Midsumma Pride March despite the ugly clash between an extremist anti-police group and officers on Sunday.

St Kilda’s annual pride march descended into chaos over the weekend as the group of protesters took aim at police supporting the march.

The group doused officers in paint and coffee and chanted slogans such as “cops kill queers” and “bottoms, tops, we all hate cops”.

A small group of protesters clash with police who were marching in the Midsumma Pride Parade along Fitzroy Street St Kilda. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Protesters chanted “cops kill queers” and “bottoms, tops, we all hate cops” at the Midsumma Pride Parade along Fitzroy Street St Kilda. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

But the state’s top cop says the force “won’t be frightened off” by the rebellious group and vowed to return in 2025.

When asked whether he’d return to the festival next year, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said he “absolutely” would.

“We are about inclusivity, we’re about demonstrating our support for the LGBTQIA+ community, for our members as well,” he told 3AW on Thursday.

“We want to engage with those communities and we want the confidence from those communities in us.

“That was a really unfortunate set of circumstances that detracted from what should have been a fantastic day.

“We won’t be frightened off, we’ll be going back next year unless we’re prohibited for some reason.”

Police have vowed to attend future Midsumma Pride Marches despite this year’s commotion Picture: Andrew Henshaw

More than 10,000 supporters hit the streets of St Kilda in sweltering heat on Sunday in a show of support for the LGBTQIA+ community as about 100 officers joined in on the march.

The peace was quickly disturbed as protesters from the Civil Resistance Youth Movement (CRYM) clashed with officers, chanting vile messages of hate and displaying banners with sick slogans.

“Protesters entered the march directly in front of Victoria Police, displaying banners bearing messages like ‘F—k Pinkwashing: F—k the Police’, chanting slogans such as ‘cops kill queers’ and ‘bottoms, tops, we all hate cops’,” CRYM said in a statement over the weekend.

The group then accused police of using “intense violence” against them and claimed offices were seen “throwing activists to the ground, elbowing them in the face”.

They also said an officer was “punching one individual in the side of the head, and grabbing someone by the throat in a chokehold”.

Victoria Police remained adamant the unarmed officers did not confront the group.

“Victoria Police is disappointed that there was a small group of people intent on disrupting what is a proud and inclusive day,” the force said in a statement.

“The protesters, who were acting not in the spirit of the event, chose to confront Victoria Police members who were unarmed.”

Officers arrested a 34-year-old over an alleged assault against a member of the public who had attempted to help officers but was released pending further investigation.