Live updates from Melbourne's anti-immigration protest: Flagpole violence escalates as rival protesters clash, resulting in a flag being set ablaze amidst chaotic scenes.
In several capital cities across Australia, anti-immigration rallies, known as the "March for Australia," took place on Sunday. The group behind these demonstrations is called March for Australia.
Thousands of people gathered at Belmore Park, in Sydney's CBD, ahead of the rally, while in Melbourne, violence broke out at the anti-immigration rally at Flinders Street Station. Demonstrators were heard chanting "All Nazis are terrorists" and "Cops and the Klan go hand in hand" in Melbourne.
The rallies were supported and promoted by the far-right political party One Nation, led by Pauline Hanson, along with other far-right figures including One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts and independent MP Bob Katter. The protests have also involved white nationalist and neo-Nazi groups.
NSW Police will be deploying 1,000 officers to patrol the city and ensure public safety during the rallies. Victorian police minister Anthony Carbines has labeled anti-immigration protestors as 'unhinged grubs'.
Victoria Police has warned that demonstrators 'who hold far-right ideologies and extreme views' are likely to attend the rallies, and that groups with opposing views are planning to confront each other. Cops have shared a worrying warning that violent scenes could break out at several of the rallies, with officers being given the power to search people for weapons in the CBD and order demonstrators to remove their face coverings.
The federal opposition leader, Sussan Ley, has called for calm and respectful behavior, stating that there is no place for violence, racism, or intimidation. The Albanese government has also declared there is no place for hate in Australia. Senior opposition senator James Paterson has expressed concern about the presence of neo-Nazis at the rallies.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and independent MP Bob Katter are among those who have shown their support for the rallies. Hanson made an appearance at the March for Australia rally in Canberra, while Katter addressed the crowd in Sydney. The organisers of the rallies have fired back at the Albanese government's claims of racism, and have vowed that protests will remain peaceful unless counter-protesters show up and cause violence.
In a concerning development, a placard of accused cop killer Dezi Freeman was spotted at the anti-immigration rally in Adelaide. Counter-protestors were also seen setting fire to an Australian flag outside Town Hall in Melbourne.
The rallies are demanding an end to 'mass migration'. The future of these protests remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: tensions are running high, and the potential for violence and unrest is a real concern for authorities and the public alike.
