Society
100 Neo-Nazis March Through Melbourne CBD
Approximately 100 Neo-Nazis dressed in all black took part in the unauthorised march as they moved through the CBD under police supervision.
The Victorian government has been called on to “act now” by the Jewish Community Council of Victoria after a procession of neo-Nazis marched through Melbourne’s CBD early on Saturday morning (Jewish Council of Victoria, 2025).
Approximately 100 masked men dressed in all black took part in the unauthorised march as they moved through the CBD under police supervision. One individual carried an Australian flag, and another held a sign reading “White Man Fight Back”.
The black-and-white flag of Australia’s National Socialist Network was also displayed. The NSN is classified as an antisemitic white supremacist hate group by the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE Report: Far-Right Hate and Extremist Groups in Australia, 2024).
According to police, a 26-year-old man who challenged the group was assaulted, but no arrests were made. The victim was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and a police investigation is ongoing.
“Victoria Police respects the right to protest. However, there is absolutely no place for antisemitic, racist or hate-based behaviour in our society and police will not tolerate such activity.” (May, 2025)
Victorian Parliament House, where new anti-vilification laws were passed in April. Image Credit: Public Domain
The Rise of Neo-Nazis & Antisemitism Sparks Calls For Action
The procession comes after an arson attack early last month on a synagogue in East Melbourne, where a man set fire to its front door during Shabbat (ABC News, 2025a).
Condemnation over the march has come from both sides of the political aisle. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan rebuked the group, stating: “Nazis don’t belong in this country and they know it. That’s why they hide behind masks in the dark.”
Opposition Leader Brad Battin called the protest “appalling” and stated that it “does not align with the values of an inclusive, tolerant and multicultural state” (ABC News, 2025b).
The Jewish community has also come out in protest. Dr. Dvir Abramovich, Chair of the Anti-Defamation Commission, described the rally as “a war parade” made up of “domestic warlords in training” (Hedgman & Schmidt, 2025).
The Jewish Council of Victoria has urged the state government to implement the anti-masking and anti-hate symbol laws that went through state parliament earlier this year (Brooke Winter Solicitors, 2025).
These new criminal anti-vilification laws come into effect in September (Brooke Winter Solicitors, 2025).
- ABC News. (2025, July 4). Man sets fire to synagogue in East Melbourne as Israeli-owned restaurant targeted by protesters. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-05/police-investigate-arson-attack-at-east-melbourne-synagogue/105497760
- ABC News. (2025, August 9). Premier Jacinta Allan says “Nazis” will not be tolerated after protest group marches through Melbourne CBD. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-09/melbourne-men-in-black-protest-police/105632224
- Brooke Winter Solicitors (2025, April 7). Victoria Passes Tough Anti-Vilification Laws: What You Need to Know – Brooke Winter Solicitors. Brooke Winter Solicitors. https://brookewintersolicitors.com.au/resources/victoria-passes-tough-anti-vilification-laws-what-you-need-to-know/
- GPAHE report: Far-Right Hate and Extremist Groups in Australia. (2024, November 20). Global Project against Hate and Extremism. https://globalextremism.org/australia/#nsn
- Hedgman, A., & Schmidt, N. (2025, August 10). “Act now”: Jewish organisations urgent plea after neo-Nazi march in Melbourne. The Daily Telegraph. https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/neonazis-march-through-melbourne-cbd-with-white-man-fight-back-sign/news-story/1bcd5790fa27b4eee1b086222ce25f04
- Jewish Council of Victoria. (2025, August 9). HATE AND MENACE IN MELBOURNE CBD. Jewish Community Council of Victoria. https://jccv.org.au/hate-menace/
- May, N. (2025, August 9). “Nazis don’t belong in this country”: Victorian premier scathing over masked march by “goons” in Melbourne CBD. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/09/jacinta-allan-responds-to-melbourne-masked-march-victoria-ntwnfb
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