Nazi Protestors Rally At Melbourne Parliament
Image: Twitter
Nazi demonstrators have gathered at Melbourne鈥檚 Parliament building today, protesting against immigration.
In a rally organised by Australian neo-Nazi organisation National Socialist Network, protestors took to the steps of the parliament building, flying the Australian flag, with many donning all black to hide their identities.
Demonstrators also bore overtly racist signs that aimed to proclaim white supremacy.
鈥淟iving Space For Whites, Stop Immigration,鈥� wrote one.
Police again letting actual Nazi (one wearing a swastika) march near our Parliament. Most of these idiots have records.
Unless you鈥檙e against them, you鈥檙e with them.
These idiots need to move to Florida.鈥� Jac (@CultofJack)
鈥淜eep Australia White,鈥� wrote another.
Demonstrators Clash
鈥淭hey started chanting Heil Hitler with the Nazi salute,鈥� says Twitter user Alex Grey, who recorded the event on their morning walk.
I was doing my morning walk near parliament. I see a bunch of white men with a banner that said stop immigration and something like keep Australia white. Then they started chanting heil hitler with the Nazi salute. Then about 80 cops came running and massive brawl starts
鈥� Alex Grey. (@AlexGrey156)
鈥淭hen about 80 cops came running and a massive brawl start(ed)鈥� observed Grey.
Trigger warning; Nazi
鈥� Alex Grey. (@AlexGrey156)
Conflict with law enforcement was common throughout the event, with many Nazis and sympathizers attracting attention by crossing a specially created barricade to incite onlookers, counter-protestors, and even the police themselves.
Twitter user Joel Cardwell would observe a protestor being arrested by police following a confrontation with an observer.
Confrontation with and arrest of Nazi Sympathiser
鈥� Joel Cardwell (@joel_cardwell)
鈥淸The] Neo Nazis, singular, surrounded and sad,鈥� writes Caldwell, highlighting the counter-protestor presence levelled against the Nazi demonstrators.
Outnumbered And Drowned Out
Counter-protest efforts were organized quickly following the announcement of the rally by the National Socialist Network on Friday morning.
As Twitter users noted, hastily coordinated 鈥淪nap Counter-Protest鈥� to 鈥淪top Nazis, Not Immigration鈥� visibly outnumbered Nazi attendees and aided in the effort to drown them out.
The Counter-Protesters aimed to silence the Nazis, loudly proclaiming them to be 鈥渨annabe Fuhrers鈥� and 鈥渨annabe strongmen鈥�.
