Clashes, anger and arrests in Melbourne as ‘neo-Nazis’ allegedly show up at gender-critical rally
Sign up for more LGBTQ+ news and updates at TrueQueer.
Investigative Report: Clashes, Anger, and Arrests in Melbourne Gender-Critical Rally
In a shocking turn of events in Melbourne on Saturday (23 March), pro-trans rights activists clashed with a “women’s rights” protest organized by the Women’s Action Group. The rally, dubbed #WomenWillSpeak, drew around 100 participants and quickly turned violent as counter-protesters in support of trans rights arrived at the scene.
According to the Women’s Action Group’s bio on YouTube, the organization was founded to oppose self-identification by transgender individuals. Their primary focus in their founding year was to resist proposed changes to the Births, Deaths, and Marriages Act in Victoria that would allow for “sex” self-identification.
The rally took a dark turn as tensions escalated between the two groups, resulting in physical altercations. Videos posted on social media showed a man identified as a “women’s rights” protester violently assaulting two trans rights activists, using a camera tripod as a weapon and grabbing one activist by the throat before slamming them against a wall. Police were forced to intervene, tackling at least two protesters to the ground before deploying pepper spray to control the situation.
Amidst the chaos, allegations surfaced that a neo-Nazi presence was felt at the protest. Attendees took to social media to claim that a neo-Nazi YouTuber had shown up at the rally wearing a shirt that read “XX REAL WOMAN” on the front and “RWDS” (right-wing death squad) on the back, with a visible sonnenrad tattoo. One attendee even alleged that the first person to speak at the Women’s Action Group’s rally was a neo-Nazi, pointing out a rune symbol on his sleeve recognized as a neo-Nazi symbol by the Anti-Defamation League.
The Anti-Defamation League describes the inverted life rune as a common white supremacist symbol used by neo-Nazis and other white supremacists. The man in question was also pictured holding a microphone and apparently addressing members of the Women’s Action Group at the event, further raising concerns about extremist ideologies infiltrating the rally.
This incident comes on the heels of a previous rally organized by the Women’s Action Group, where a member made vile comments seemingly calling for the death of a transgender person. The speaker, identified as Louise, made shocking remarks during an anti-trans “Speakers’ Corner”-style event in Ballarat, Victoria, sparking outrage among attendees.
In response to the violence at the 23 March rally, Victoria Police expressed disappointment with the behavior of many attendees and condemned the hostile actions towards officers. Two women in their 20s were arrested at the scene and are expected to face charges on summons. Victoria Police reiterated their commitment to supporting peaceful protests but emphasized that disgraceful and unlawful behavior would not be tolerated.
Anyone with information or footage related to the unlawful behavior at the rally is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or submit a report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
The clashes, anger, and arrests at the Melbourne gender-critical rally highlight the ongoing tensions between pro-trans rights activists and those advocating for women’s rights. The presence of individuals espousing extremist ideologies further underscores the need for vigilance and accountability in public demonstrations.
Follow us on: Facebook for more LGBTQ+ news and updates at TrueQueer.
trans-rights
