Second person charged with displaying Nazi symbol at Sydney rally on Sunday

Police have charged a second man with displaying a Nazi symbol at a controversial demonstration in Sydney at the weekend.

A second person has been charged with displaying a Nazi poster at a major rally in Sydney on Sunday.

The man, in his 50s, will face court next month.

The poster was spotted by police at a major rally on Sunday in a charged atmosphere given it was on the eve of the October 7 anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel.

In a statement, police say the 56-year-old man was spotted about 2.45pm putting up a poster of a Nazi swastika in Hyde Park.

The crossed-out Israeli flag stickers commonly seen in Australian cities, have not constituted any criminal offensive symbol charges. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Police spoke to and moved the 56-year-old man on and removed the poster.

On Monday he was charged with knowingly displaying a public act a Nazi symbol without excuse.

He has been issued a notice to appear in court in mid-November.

Thousands of pro-Palestine demonstrators showed up in Sydney and Melbourne on Sunday, as they have done for the past 52 weeks.

But the lead up to the rallies was politically and emotionally charged, given the one-year anniversary of the October 7 attack by terrorist group Hamas.

NSW Police had copious officers on scene for the Sunday rally. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

The terrorist group killed about 1200 people; 101 hostages are still missing.

The ensuing Israeli attacks have killed more than 41,000 Gazans.

Peaceful rallies have taken place in the Sydney and Melbourne CBDs every weekend since the escalation in violence one year ago.

However, at least two Nazi symbols were displayed at the Sydney rally.

Another 56-year-old man has also been charged.

Police allege his placard was a replica Israeli flag, with the Star of David replaced with a swastika, and the words “Stop Nazi Israel”, written on the blue horizontal stripes.

Displaying a Nazi symbol carries a maximum penalty of 12 months in prison and an $11,000 fine.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said he had personally inspected the symbol and determined it was a Nazi swastika.