Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has responded after a neo-Nazi group led a march through Melbourne’s CBD in the early hours of this morning.
Per 9News, the march began at around 12:40am, with around 100 members of the National Socialist Network gathering in the CBD before marching along Bourke street.
Members of the neo-Nazi group were seen wearing all-black clothing, including balaclavas, and holding signs emblazoned with hateful messages en route to the Flagstaff Gardens in the city’s north-west.
Police were called to the scene and at around 1:25am, the group was dispersed with the help of police vehicles that were trailing their march.
According to The Age, a 26-year-old man was allegedly assaulted when he confronted the group, and was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
“[Officers] were quick to respond to ensure public order was maintained,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said, per The Age.
“There is absolutely no place for antisemitic, racist or hate-based behaviour in our society and police will not tolerate such activity.”
Responding to the march earlier today, Allan issued a scathing condemnation and described groups like the National Socialist Network as “cowards”.
“Nazis don’t belong in this country and they know it. That’s why they hide behind masks in the dark,” Allan wrote in a social media post.
“We’re not afraid of these goons – but we won’t tolerate them either.”
In the same statement, Allan flagged the Victorian government’s introduction of criminal anti-vilification laws, which come into effect next month and expand protections against racial and religious vilification in the state.
“We will introduce powers for police to unmask cowards at protests after that,” Allan wrote.
The Age reports that the march was led by known white supremacist leader Thomas Sewell, who reportedly attempted to forge his own political party earlier this year.
Meanwhile, in April, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned far-right extremism after neo-Nazis interrupted a Welcome to Country acknowledgement during Melbourne’s ANZAC Day Dawn Service.
“We know the consequences of this,” Albanese said, per SBS.
“We need to take this seriously, these threats. Because they are real.”
Lead images: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images, X and TikTok
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