In the early hours of August 9, Melbourne’s CBD became the stage for a very upsetting event: a Melbourne neo-Nazi march with about 100 masked men. The group, which was all in black, marched past Bourke Street Mall with an Australian flag, a National Socialist Network flag, and a sign that said “White Man Fight Back.”
The National Socialist Network is a far-right extremist group that was formed in 2020. It is renowned for using public protests and media tactics to recruit members all over the country.
Police Presence and Safety Measures for the Public
The police cars that came to the scene had their lights on, but they didn’t act right away. Instead, they guided the group to keep the peace and stop violence.
The march ended at Flagstaff Gardens around 1:25 in the morning, and no one was taken into custody. But a 26-year-old man is said to have assaulted the marchers when he confronted them. He was hurt but not seriously enough to need to go to the hospital.
Victoria Police said again that they respect the right to protest, but “there is absolutely no place for antisemitic, racist, or hate-based behaviour” in Victoria.
Leadership and a Criminal Record
Thomas Sewell, a well-known white supremacist with a criminal past, led the march. Sewell has been discovered guilty of attacking a Channel Nine security guard in 2021 and volunteering time in jail for attacking bushwalkers who filmed his group the same year.
Experts, like Associate Professor Joshua Roose from Deakin University, said that police don’t have a lot of power at the moment because there are no laws against face coverings or requiring protest permits. Roose said that the event was intended to take place at the same time as the group’s national meeting, make their numbers appear larger and help them get more members.
Response from the Government and Politics
Jacinta Allan, the Premier of Victoria, referred to the marchers “goons” and said, “Nazis don’t belong in this country.” She confirmed that new laws are being passed to give police more power to recognise protesters, stop people from carrying balaclavas at protests, and limit protests outside of places of worship.
These changes arise after the December firebombing of the Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea and were intended to stop extremist activity before it gets more serious.
Groups that support action are calling for it.
Dr. Dvir Abramovich, head of the Anti-Defamation Commission, called the march a “war parade” and said that the people who took part were like “domestic warlords in training.” He said that the group spreads hate, praises violence, and does well when people are split.
Abramovich said that the Prime Minister and Parliament should make it illegal for any neo-Nazi or white supremacist group to exist in Australia. He said, “History will not forgive inaction.”
Reaction from the public was divided.
Responses on social media to the Melbourne neo-Nazi march were mixed. Many people strongly criticised the march as divisive and not representative of Australian values. Some called the people who took part a “pathetic little club of cowards,” stating that they only look strong when they are together but are not strong on their own.
The Big Picture
The march has brought back national discussions about how to deal with far-right extremism in Australia. As changes to the law are coming, community politicians and leaders all agree: there is no place for racism, antisemitism, or extremist ideas in Australian society.
