A new protest group pushing anti-immigration marches across Australia has addressed controversy over police permits and alleged association with neo-Nazis.
The group called March for Australia is described as a grassroots ‘coalition of nationalists, patriots and everyday Australians’ and is promoting protests for August 31 at midday.
It said the aim is for likeminded people to gather in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth and Adelaide to demand an end to mass immigration.
‘For years, Australia’s unity and shared values have been eroded by policies and movements that divide us,’ the website description said.
‘Our streets have seen growing displays of anti-Australian hatred, foreign conflicts, and disintegrating trust, whilst mass migration has torn at the bonds that held our communities together.’
But several state and territory police forces have said they have yet to be informed about the protests, with New South Wales and Queensland Police confirming to Daily Mail that they had not received a Notice of Intention to hold a public assembly.
Police forces in Western Australia and Victoria have also urged organisers to engage with officers.
A spokesperson for South Australia Police said they are liaising with the people behind the protests with sufficient resources to ensure a peaceful march.
Protests have drawn much attention over the past month, with upcoming nationwide marches hoping to oppose immigration in Australia (stock image)
An ACT Policing spokesperson said the force is aware of planned protest activity later this month and will respond to any activity appropriately.
‘ACT Policing supports the right of people to peacefully protest, however the disruption of business activity or other criminal activity will not be tolerated,’ they said.
When asked by Daily Mail for comment, March for Australia said the group has not finalised locations, which is its top priority, and so filing permits is not yet workable.
‘Locations are to be finalised on the 15th of August, at which point permits will be able to be organised,’ they said.
‘Submission time requirements for most permits are incredibly short, ranging from one week to a couple of days before the event.’
Little is known about the people behind the group but they have been forced to clarify that they are not run by groups affiliated with neo-Nazis.
Thomas Sewell, an alleged member of neo-Nazi group National Socialist Network (NSN), posted on Telegram with a similar event, seemingly claiming to be behind in.
In the image for the post, it promised a protest on August 31 at midday in the same cities with the declaration: ‘It’s time to take our country back.’
Thomas Sewell (pictured) seemed to take credit for the anti-immigration protest
Grassroots organisers March for Australia have made it clear that Sewell’s post on Telegram which claimed the protest under his organisation (pictured) was false
Below the poster, Sewell wrote: ‘White Australia and the NSN vanguard have successfully completed the Winter National summit.
‘After only just arriving home from our summit today, I have been informed that foreign fifth columns are attempting to hijack our August 31st public rally for Australia.
‘Australians must say NO to Israeli, Palestinian, Chinese and Indian foreign interference trying to hijack our common sense patriotic spirit.’
But, while still remaining relatively anonymous, March for Australia made it clear they are ‘not members of, nor acting on behalf of, any other group’.
‘In particular, recent claims by Thomas Sewell of White Australia are not reflective of the organisers nor the politics of March For Australia,’ they told Daily Mail.
‘We are not associated with their organisation.
‘Additional claims that we are associated with Israeli, Jewish, or Palestinian movements or organisations are also unfounded and untrue.’
Fraught protests across the political spectrum have garnered attention over the last month, including the footage of more than 100 neo-Nazis marching through Melbourne on Saturday.
The week before an estimated 90,000-strong pro-Palestine protest on August 3 also took over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
In response to the march, former Australian Army soldier Sam Bamford floated a similar ‘freedom rally’ to highlight what he claims is a national crisis being ignored.
‘What if I organised a rally to speak out against the mass unchecked immigration, to shine a light on 122,000 Aussies that are currently homeless, with another 10,000 added every single month,’ he said.
