Two arrested as neo-Nazi group clashes with police at Victorian Parliament

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Two people were arrested after neo-Nazis returned to the steps of Victorian Parliament and clashed with police and counter-protesters, almost two months after fascists gatecrashed an anti-trans rally on Spring Street.

Victoria Police – which deployed more than 200 officers across the city on Saturday – denounced the group of about 25 neo-Nazis who arrived an hour early for a midday “anti-immigration protest”.

More than 200 police officers were deployed across Melbourne on Saturday, where there were six planned protests.Credit: Justin McManus

A 30-year-old Doreen man was arrested for allegedly stealing a body-worn camera and assaulting police. A 20-year-old Werribee man was also arrested for allegedly discharging a missile and assaulting police.

“Like the community, police were appalled at the acts displayed in Melbourne today,” the police statement said.

“Everyone has the right to feel safe in our community regardless of who they are. We understand incidents of antisemitism can leave communities feeling targeted, threatened and vulnerable. Hate and prejudice has no place in our society.”

A Victorian government spokesperson also condemned the “disgraceful and cowardly” behaviour.

“Victorians have zero tolerance for this behaviour and so do we,” the spokesperson said. “That’s why we’ll expand our nation-leading legislation banning the Nazi Hakenkreuz to include the Nazi salute – because everyone deserves to feel safe, welcome and included in Victoria.”

“While we wish making these laws wasn’t necessary, and it will take some work, we want to be clear – we will always challenge antisemitism, hatred and racism from taking root in Victoria.”

Opposition Leader John Pesutto and Deputy Leader David Southwick released a statement condemning “neo-Nazi thugs and their toxic bigotry and hate”.

“Australia has a proud history of an orderly immigration program where people from all backgrounds come together in shared liberal-democratic values,” the statement said.

“This sort of behaviour is completely unacceptable and against the values of an inclusive, tolerant and multicultural community.”

Neo-Nazis gathered in the CBD.Credit: Justin McManus

The Victorian Liberal Party has been in turmoil since upper house MP Moira Deeming attended the anti-trans rally in March, which neo-Nazis also attended. Deeming was ultimately expelled from the parliamentary party on Friday after she threatened to sue Pesutto over her earlier suspension for attending the anti-trans rally where neo-Nazis were present.

Pesutto and Southwick said they would work with the Victorian government to ban the Nazi salute, as it has already pledged, and thanked police for dealing with “a deplorable situation of inexcusable behaviour”.

Spring Street had been closed to traffic on Saturday as word spread on social media this week of both the anti-immigration protest and a counter-protest.

Police and neo-Nazis spilled onto the road after clashing on the steps.

Counter-protesters arriving at Spring Street saw the neo-Nazi group being moved onto Fitzroy Gardens, doing the Nazi salute and chanting “no Jewish power”.

About 30 anti-fascist protesters arrived at Fitzroy Gardens at 12.25pm to counter-protest the neo-Nazi presence in the gardens. The counter-protest group swelled to about 50 people as the day wore on.

Police officers moved the counter-protest to the opposite side of Lansdowne Street, while the group chanted “f— off Nazis” and “you’ll always lose in Melbourne”.

Melbourne’s Hoddle grid and surrounding areas were declared a designated zone by police.Credit: Victoria Police

Police repeatedly moved counter-protesters across the road and moved the mounted branch into the park at 12.35pm.

“Today’s protest involved many different opposing groups and our core focus was to ensure safety, prevent clashes, and de-escalate any violent behaviour,” a police statement said.

One officer was treated at the scene for pepper-spray exposure.

Victoria Police declared the CBD and the parliament gardens a designated area between 7am and 7pm on Saturday, giving officers the power to search any people, their possessions and cars in the area for weapons.

Police said this designation helped defuse the situation.

With AAP

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