Neil Erikson and far-right group want to ‘welcome’ new Australians
Far-right group Patriot Blue say they would like to ‘welcome’ new Australians at a Moreland City Council ceremony.
A Victorian far-right activist has defended his plans to disrupt a citizenship ceremony at an anti-Australia Day local council.
Neil Erikson says he and other members of his group Patriot Blue would be counter-protesting Moreland City Council, which voted last year to scrap Australia Day.
“We’re not here to scare anyone, we’re peaceful ... we want to welcome the new citizens at Moreland City Council to know it’s not just January 26, it’s Australia Day,” he told The Australian.
“And to know that the councillors are a bunch of undemocratic, treasonous communists.”
Mr Erikson, a former neo-Nazi, also said he will attend an Invasion Day rally in Melbourne’s CBD on Friday where he and Patriot Blue members will counter-protest with Australian flags.
“If the violent left want to attack us, that’s on them ... we expect the police to protect us and protect Australia Day.”
Thousands of people, including children, are expected at Friday’s rally where they will demand Australia Day’s date is changed from January 26, which they consider offensive to Aboriginal people as it is the anniversary of the First Fleet and the start of colonialism.
Mr Erikson came to national prominence for ambushing former Labor senator Sam Dastyari in a Melbourne bar last year.
It was revealed last week in the Federal Circuit Court Mr Erikson had recently been charged with assault, affray and riotous behaviour in regards to a riot outside far-right commentator Milo Yiannopoulos’s Melbourne speaking gig last month.
Moreland City Council was targeted by a group including Mr Erikson last October for its decision to support a change to Australia Day’s date, when far-right protesters crashed a council meeting and brandished a fake coffin with the national flag painted on it.
But the council has only received a formal warning from the federal government over their anti-Australia Day stance unlike Yarra and Darebin Councils which had their citizenship ceremonies cancelled.
Sources close to the council said they had expected to fly under the radar of far right activists on Friday as their citizenship event clashed directly with the Invasion Day rally.
Mayor John Kavanagh said Moreland City has updated its security arrangements and had been working with Victoria Police in the run up to their Friday citizenship ceremony.
“It would be incredibly disappointing if such a joyous occasion was tarnished by individuals or groups protesting something unrelated to the ceremony,” he said.
Invasion Day rally organiser Tarneen Onus-Williams told The Australian she did not fear for the safety of her fellow protesters due to the large police presence she expects to be in the CBD on Friday.
“We also have legal observers and human rights observers coming who will be keeping watch over the rally,” she said.
Ms Onus-Williams said any violence would be a result of the “far right protesting against us.”
“This is a family event and people often bring children, our nieces and nephews and little cousins are there. This is not a violent protest,” she said.
Victoria Police told The Australian protesters and other Melburnians would note an “increased police presence” on Australia Day this year.
“Extensive planning has been undertaken with all relevant stakeholders including local councils ... As always, police will not tolerate any anti-social or criminal behaviour,” a police spokesman said.
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