‘Protect white heritage’: What organisers of August 31 rally say
Leaked audio from organisers of this weekend’s so-called ‘March for Australia’ rallies has exposed their approach to the rally.
One of the loudest voices of this weekend’s so-called “March for Australia” has been recorded in a leaked audio clip telling followers how to explain their involvement in the rally.
Bec Freedom has for weeks been building momentum for this Sunday’s marches, which are expected to take place in capital cities with the underlying theme to “end mass immigration”.
“If you are sick of seeing this, get to the protest,” she wrote recently above an image of an Australian flag being burned at an event in Melbourne.
Freedom has faced criticism for her comments on August 11 in a livestream when she told listeners how to avoid being labelled “a Nazi”.
“There’s a lot of people trying to claim the rally as their own and turn it into a unity march,” Freedom can be heard saying.
“I understand why some people are saying it’s not about race. Though people like that … they’re scared.
“But if we break it down, this is how I tried to explain it to somebody. I say, OK, so protect Australian heritage, culture, way of life. Next step, protect European culture, heritage, way of life. The next step is protect white heritage.
“It all means the same thing. It’s just different ways to put it. Australian heritage, by saying it that way, it is more appealing to the public. It’s going to deter them from saying, ‘Oh, it’s a Nazi rally’, blah, blah, blah. That’s all it means, Australian is white, it’s European, European white.”
Freedom told Nine Newspapers the audio misrepresented the message she was attempting to convey.
The comments have been criticised online, including by Dr Kaz Ross, an independent researcher of extremism,who has also warned those thinking about attending the weekend’s rallies to avoid being unwittingly associated with neo-Nazis after the reported planned attendance at the rally by the National Socialist Network.
“NSN are using it as backdrop to launch their whites-only white supremacist political party.
“Anyone going risks being in nazi propaganda.”
The links to NSN have been disputed by organisers but National Socialist Network leader Tom Sewell claimed it was their event weeks ago.
“White Australia and the NSN vanguard have successfully completed the Winter National summit,” he wrote on encrypted messaging app Telegram.
“After only just arriving home from our summit today, I have been informed that foreign fifth columns are attempting to hijack ourAugust 31st public rally for Australia.
“Australians must say NO to Israeli, Palestinian, Chinese and Indian foreign interference trying to hijack our common sense patriotic spirit.
“White Australians must assemble on August 31st against the traitors and foreigners who are trying to destroy our nation.”
The claim led previously ardent supporters of the August 31 marches to abandon ship.
Monica Smit, who made a name for herself during Melbourne’s pandemic lockdowns and established Reignite Democracy Australia, wrote on August 12 that “August 31 is ruined”.
“It had great potential, but something went wrong,” she wrote.
“Whether it was planned by extremists or hijacked by extremists, it doesn’t matter. When the leader of the Nazis claims it as his event, there’s no coming back from there.
“Direct your anger at him for ruining it, not me and others who are risking backlash to tell you the truth.
“I told you what I knew so you were well-informed before attending. If you want to march behind these masked extremists, go for it, that’s your choice… but I won’t stand by and say nothing just to appease ‘the mob’.”
She has since flip-flopped again, writing on Thursday that the March for Australia rally “has the momentum to be huge”.
But she warned her supporters to avoid confrontation and “if you see Nazi flags or inappropriately worded signs and you don’t want to associate with that distance yourself swiftly”.
Bec Freedom’s online push has seen her this week mock the ABC for “trying to censor the times and locations” of this weekend’s events.
“LOL at ABC News ... Nice try guys, but they’ve already gone viral nationwide, despite your approval or note,” she wrote above images of event posters with the details blacked out.
Earlier this month, she clashed with 2GB host Ben Fordham over comments she made in leaked audio that “we need to see violence” similar to the 2005 Cronulla Riots.
“We need violence, I’m sorry, but we need f**king violence,” she is heard saying.
“We’ve done peaceful, peaceful hasn’t done s**t. I don’t think that anything significant is going to change unless something like that does happen again. Until we stand up and do something like that day I think it’s just going to be repeating.”
“What are you doing online in forums with lots of people listening in saying ‘we need violence’?” Fordham asked.
“Until we hit rock bottom I don’t think everyone is going to see just how bad the state of our country is at the moment,” Freedom said.
“That is what I said, yes, and I’ve since apologised for putting fear into anyone. That was not my intent. It was taken the wrong way. I’m sorry, but all I can say is I’m working very closely with the police for August 31 and I’m trying my hardest to make sure everyone stays safe.”
“So you apologise for making that comment?” Fordham asked.
“One hundred per cent I do,” she said.
She accused Fordham of a “gotcha moment”.
“I still don’t think that’s going to deter people, because everyone can see just how bad the state of Australia is,” she said.
“[The police] understand the gravity of the situation. They understand there are counter-protests planned to come and attack. I’ve had death threats, I’ve been told that I’m going to have things thrown at me. We’ve kept police in the loop and they are willing to work with us as much as possible.”
It comes as Victoria Police investigate a Somali-Australian Twitch streamer who threatened upcoming anti-immigration rallies on Sunday, claiming he has a “shooter with a switch ready”.
The content creator, who goes by the name ‘Deeds23’, posted the clip on TikTok on August 18 in response to the controversy swirling around the rallies.
“Everybody talking about the 31st of August, c**t, let’s run it,” he says in the video, which has been viewed 130,000 times.
“Wallah, let’s f**king run it. Let’s go, just tell me where we meeting. Nasty n****s, where we meeting? Just tell me what block. Flinders, Swanston, Collins, just let me know so I can plan. I’ve got a shooter with a switch ready to just … y’nah mean?”
Originally published as ‘Protect white heritage’: What organisers of August 31 rally say
