“If we don’t then they are going to grow, we’ve got to stop a movement from growing,” one demonstrator told 9News.
About 300 people met and then marched through the streets of Sunshine West, heading towards a boxing gym.
There, a Neo Nazi-gathering was taking place according to a flyer, which advertised the event as a White Power lifting meet, hosted by the European Australia Movement and national socialist network.
At least 100 stickers featuring the symbol of the black sun were spotted, and scratched off, by demonstrators as they marched through the suburb.
“You don’t need to know much history to know six million reasons why the battle is so important,” one man told those gathered.
The march was loud and disruptive.
One of the aims of the demonstration was to put on a public show of support for the many migrants in the Sunshine West community.
“Migrants are welcome, Nazis are not,” one lady in the crowd shouted.
A wall of Victoria Police officers were waiting near the gym, blocking access to protestors and leaving them to call on those inside to come out and meet them.
But from the air, it was clear the men were ignoring the protest as they appeared to enjoy a spit roast barbecue.
“The Nazis clearly didn’t have the numbers to face us so they’ve hidden away in their gym,” Jasmine Duff from Campaign Against Racism and Fascism told 9News.
“It’s pretty small and pretty pathetic but at the same time the racism they feed off you can see everywhere in Australia, particularly in the mainstream,” Duff said.
After about an hour, the anti-Nazi rally disbanded, their targets silent but their message loud and clear.
Discussion about this post