At least 50 men, mostly clad in black, violently disrupted the Aboriginal protest site Camp Sovereignty in Melbourne's Kings Domain on Sunday evening, leaving four people injured. The group, including members of the neo-Nazi National Socialist Network, attacked the camp as the sun was setting, swinging sticks and poles at activists and attempting to knock down the camp's signage.
Camp Sovereignty and the Black Peoples Union said the attack was unprovoked and targeted women, grabbing them, throwing them to the ground, and striking them in the head. Four people required medical attention, with two taken to hospital suffering severe head injuries, including a deep gash. All injured were younger women of colour. The attackers allegedly shouted slogans such as 'white power' and 'white man's land', along with sexist and racist slurs.
One victim, a 30-year-old primary school teacher, alleged a boy who looked about 15 ripped her hair, threw her to the ground, and punched her in the face with a smile. The camp believes it was deliberately targeted during their regular community gatherings.
Victoria Police confirmed they are investigating an affray in Southbank, stating that a group gathered in parkland off St Kilda Road was approached by a second group, which formed a line and assaulted members with sticks and flag poles. Police moved the second group on, and a man and woman received medical assistance at the scene. Ambulance Victoria reported transporting a woman in her 30s with upper body injuries to The Alfred hospital in a stable condition.
Victorian Senator Lidia Thorpe condemned the attack as an 'unprovoked, coordinated Nazi attack on Aboriginal people' and called for it to be investigated as a hate crime. Meanwhile, in Sydney, two men were charged after a brawl at a Broadway hotel, where a police officer was allegedly assaulted. The men were refused bail and are due in court.
The incidents followed anti-immigration 'March for Australia' rallies across the country, which were led by neo-Nazis and drew significant crowds.
