Neo-Nazi protest rocks Ballarat as community expresses outrage over march
Raw Text
A group of masked neo-Nazis has shocked a Victorian city after they paraded down a major street with strange demands for an âAustralia for the white manâ.
Eli Green
3 min read
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A neo-Nazi march through a Victorian city has sparked outrage as police investigate whether any laws were broken.
Ballarat locals were left shocked when dozens of masked men dressed in black from the National Socialist Network paraded down Sturt Street in the cityâs centre on Sunday afternoon.
Led by a single unmasked man and another holding a megaphone, the group were heard shouting âAustralia for the white manâ while they marched down the middle of the road.
âHeil victory,â they were also heard chanting.
The group were also heard singing Rule Britannia as they marched and were seen taking photos at Ballaratâs Eureka memorial.
Victoria Police have confirmed they attended the unplanned demonstration at 12:30pm.
âThere were no major incidents of note during the demonstration. However, as a matter of course, police will review any vision or CCTV from the day,â a spokesperson said.
âOur top priority was keeping the peace to ensure the event did not impact the safety of the broader community.
âEveryone has the right to feel safe in our community regardless of who they are.
âWe understand incidents of anti-Semitism can leave communities feeling targeted, threatened and vulnerable. Hate and prejudice has no place in our society.â
Ballarat Community Alliance said they were aware of the protests and had demanded a swift response from police, adding that âneo-Nazis are not welcomeâ.
âWe condemn this group of blow-ins and their message of hate,â the group said in a statement.
âThey have come to Ballarat to co-opt the Eureka legacy on the inclusive and peaceful commemoration of the anniversary of Eureka Stockade.
âWe are a proud multicultural city and at the recent referendum were one of the biggest yes votes in regional Australia. We are a safe and inclusive city and we unequivocally condemn their presence in this city.â
The group questioned why police did not enforce new laws that prohibit the performance or display of Nazi symbols and gestures.
âWhy werenât these laws enforced by police who instead helped the neo-Nazis by making safe passage through the street for their protest?â they wrote on social media.
A man who witnessed the event said that the rally sparked disbeliefs in bystanders and said that the event was likely timed to coincide with the Spilt Milk music festival held the day before.
The group were also spotted walking along rural roads at the back of Sovereign Hill, trailed by a police car with lights on.
A bank of cars was seen behind as the group took up the entire lane of traffic.
Many questioned why police did not step in when they took to the streets,
âSo they disrupt traffic & donât get arrested? Climate protesters would be in jail almost immediately!â one person wrote on social media.
Itâs not the first time the area has been the target for neo-Nazi protests, with residents saying they felt in danger after a group of men descended on the town of Halls Gap, 150km northwest of Ballarat, on Australia Day in 2021.
Pictures of the gathering showed shirtless men wearing balaclavas burning a cross.
The protest was likely connected to the anniversary of the Eureka Stockade, where gold miners battled with police and the military over land rights and policing of their work.
âThey swore to fight together against police and military. After the oath, they built a stockade at Eureka, and waited for the main attack,â the State Library of Victoria says about the rebellion.
âOn 3 December, there was an all-out clash between the miners and the police, supported by the military. The miners planned their defence and attack carefully, but they were no match for the well-armed force they faced.
âWhen the battle was over, 125 miners were taken prisoner and many were badly wounded. Six of the police and troopers were killed and there were at least 22 deaths among the diggers.â
The Eureka flag has been co-opted by neo-Nazi groups in Australia as a symbol of rebellion against the government.
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A group of masked neo-Nazis has shocked a Victorian city after they paraded down a major street with strange demands for an âAustralia for the white manâ. Eli Green. 3 min read. NCA NewsWire. Cops to help drivers dodge speed cameras. âUnacceptableâ road toll sparks Christmas plea. Horror after toddler killed in driveway. A neo-Nazi march through a Victorian city has sparked outrage as police investigate whether any laws were broken. Ballarat locals were left shocked when dozens of masked men dressed in black from the National Socialist Network paraded down Sturt Street in the cityâs centre on Sunday afternoon. Led by a single unmasked man and another holding a megaphone, the group were heard shouting âAustralia for the white manâ while they marched down the middle of the road. âHeil victory,â they were also heard chanting. The group were also heard singing Rule Britannia as they marched and were seen taking photos at Ballaratâs Eureka memorial. Victoria Police have confirmed they attended the unplanned demonstration at 12:30pm. âThere were no major incidents of note during the demonstration. However, as a matter of course, police will review any vision or CCTV from the day,â a spokesperson said. âOur top priority was keeping the peace to ensure the event did not impact the safety of the broader community. âEveryone has the right to feel safe in our community regardless of who they are. âWe understand incidents of anti-Semitism can leave communities feeling targeted, threatened and vulnerable. Hate and prejudice has no place in our society.â Ballarat Community Alliance said they were aware of the protests and had demanded a swift response from police, adding that âneo-Nazis are not welcomeâ. âWe condemn this group of blow-ins and their message of hate,â the group said in a statement. âThey have come to Ballarat to co-opt the Eureka legacy on the inclusive and peaceful commemoration of the anniversary of Eureka Stockade. âWe are a proud multicultural city and at the recent referendum were one of the biggest yes votes in regional Australia. We are a safe and inclusive city and we unequivocally condemn their presence in this city.â The group questioned why police did not enforce new laws that prohibit the performance or display of Nazi symbols and gestures. âWhy werenât these laws enforced by police who instead helped the neo-Nazis by making safe passage through the street for their protest?â they wrote on social media. A man who witnessed the event said that the rally sparked disbeliefs in bystanders and said that the event was likely timed to coincide with the Spilt Milk music festival held the day before. The group were also spotted walking along rural roads at the back of Sovereign Hill, trailed by a police car with lights on. A bank of cars was seen behind as the group took up the entire lane of traffic. Many questioned why police did not step in when they took to the streets, âSo they disrupt traffic & donât get arrested? Climate protesters would be in jail almost immediately!â one person wrote on social media. Itâs not the first time the area has been the target for neo-Nazi protests, with residents saying they felt in danger after a group of men descended on the town of Halls Gap, 150km northwest of Ballarat, on Australia Day in 2021. Pictures of the gathering showed shirtless men wearing balaclavas burning a cross. The protest was likely connected to the anniversary of the Eureka Stockade, where gold miners battled with police and the military over land rights and policing of their work. âThey swore to fight together against police and military. After the oath, they built a stockade at Eureka, and waited for the main attack,â the State Library of Victoria says about the rebellion. âOn 3 December, there was an all-out clash between the miners and the police, supported by the military. The miners planned their defence and attack carefully, but they were no match for the well-armed force they faced. âWhen the battle was over, 125 miners were taken prisoner and many were badly wounded. Six of the police and troopers were killed and there were at least 22 deaths among the diggers.â The Eureka flag has been co-opted by neo-Nazi groups in Australia as a symbol of rebellion against the government. On the Road. Cops to help drivers dodge speed cameras. Police officers in Victoria will start alerting drivers to speed cameras by parking nearby and flashing their lights, as a pay dispute heats up. VIC. âUnacceptableâ road toll sparks Christmas plea. Police in one state are pleading; âweâve got to do betterâ, after one of the worst years on record for fatal crashes. On the Road. Horror after toddler killed in driveway. A horror collision on a suburban street has killed a toddler, bringing one stateâs road toll to a worrying 15-year high.