"A far-right assault on a revered Aboriginal sanctuary is condemned as spineless"
In a distressing turn of events, far-right demonstrators stormed the Aboriginal protest site at Camp Sovereignty in King's Domain, Melbourne, on Sunday afternoon. The incident, which followed the March for Australia rally in the city's CBD, left four people requiring medical attention, with two hospitalised with severe head injuries.
The clash began when approximately 50 men, including suspected neo-Nazis, targeted the indigenous protest camp of the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. The black-clad men lashed out with kicks and verbal abuse, and some stepped on an Aboriginal flag. Camp Sovereignty organisers accused the men of targeting women "completely unprovoked."
The Police Minister, Anthony Carbines, described the men's behaviour as disgraceful and stated that they went with the intent to cause trouble. The investigation into the attack at Camp Sovereignty remains ongoing, according to Victoria Police.
Senator Lidia Thorpe, a member of the Gunai, Gunditjmara, and Djab Wurrung tribes, and her uncle, Robbie Thorpe, who established Camp Sovereignty, want the attack to be investigated as a hate crime. Senator Thorpe stated that the aim of the attack was to cause fear and terror in the hearts and minds of the First Nations people.
Deputy Premier Ben Carroll described the attack as an appalling attack on Victoria's First Nations people. He also mentioned that the Aboriginal people have been in Australia for 65,000 years, a fact that underscores the significance of the Camp Sovereignty site, which is a burial site with the remains of Indigenous people from 38 clans.
Mr. Carbines also mentioned that police will be investigating the matters and will be in contact with members of Camp Sovereignty and other First Nations people. Neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell was among the black-clad men who clashed with Camp Sovereignty members. No new information about the medical condition of those injured in the attack was provided in the current paragraph.
As the investigation continues, the community and the nation are left to grapple with the implications of this hate-fuelled attack on a sacred site and its people. The attack serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for recognition and respect for Australia's First Nations people.
