4 days ago
Shocking scenes as neo-Nazis flood Melbourne's CBD
Confronting footage has been captured of more than 100 neo-Nazis marching through the streets of Melbourne before they squared off with police.
Members of the National Socialist Network (NSN) congregated in the Melbourne CBD and marched along Bourke Street, dressing in all black clothing, before police were called to intervene on Saturday morning.
Victorian police responded to the march, featuring people carrying Australian flags and chanting, at about 12.40am on Saturday night as the group walked to Flagstaff Gardens and dispersed at about 1.25am.
'Around 100 people dressed in black with face coverings marched through the Melbourne CBD,' a Victorian Police spokeswoman said.
'It is alleged an altercation occurred during the protest where a man confronted the group and was assaulted.'
The 26-year-old man was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police vehicles were seen arriving at the scene with lights flashing, but they let the march continue as protesters held a 'White Man Fight Back' sign.
It was not the first time neo-Nazi groups have march through Melbourne's streets and Victorian Police said there were no arrests made last night.
'Victoria Police respects the right to protest however there is absolutely no place for antisemitic, racist or hate-based behaviour in our society and police will not tolerate such activity,' a police statement read.
National Socialist Network members reportedly gathered again as the sun came up at Bacchus Marsh in Melbourne's outer west.
Bacchus Marsh locals were told of the group's planned march prior to Saturday.
'We want to alert you to a concerning event planned in our community: a neo-Nazi gathering has been scheduled to take place in the Bacchus Marsh area on August 8, 9 and 10,' a flyer handed out read.
'This group, the NSN, promoted hate, violence, and dangerous extremist ideologies that threaten the safety and unity of our community.
'Members will be coming from all over Australia. For the first time, they have invited their supporters to join them as well.'
There will be a bigger police presence between Melton and Ballarat over the weekend.
Victorian Police told Daily Mail that there were no protests happening in Mlebourne as of 11.45am on Saturday morning.
Aussies online lashed out at the protest.
'Australia is multicultural so no, they are NOT standing up for 'Australians,' one person wrote.
One person described them as a 'pathetic little club of cowards'.
'Not one of those manchild scumbags is doing anything, they just only feel strong in a gang,' they said.
'Separate them and you have a club of snivelling babies.'
It comes after a previous white supremacist march outside a shopping centre in Melbourne in June where a group gathered outside Northland Shopping Centre in Preston.
They too were filmed dressed in black with their faces covered while chanting slogans such as 'white man, fight back' and 'white pride' while holding an offensive banner.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan described that demonstration as 'hateful' and 'extremist' and said it had 'no place' in Victoria.
