Anti-racism rally organisers claim as many as 10,000 people gathered outside Flinders Street Station alone, but police estimate 2500 people joined the separate marches across the city.
Both protests splintered into smaller groups by mid-afternoon, funnelling down Bourke and Little Bourke streets, before facing off on Swanston Street where there were several altercations.
Police deployed capsicum spray several times, including on one man sprayed in the face at close range.
The anti-racism rallies, organised by a coalition of groups, opened with messages of unity from speakers as thousands gathered at the steps of Flinders Street Station. “We love everybody, we have no division, we welcome everybody,” an organiser said.
The vast majority of protesters who marched from Flinders Street to the edge of Spring Street were peaceful, waving Aboriginal, Palestinian and LGBTQ+ flags, and leading chants including “Nazi scum off our streets” and “always was, always will be Aboriginal land”.
Similarly, the overwhelming majority of protesters outside parliament were peaceful, although agitators were present in both groups.
Omar Ahsan, an activist and organiser, said the anti-racism rally was co-ordinated in response to the “terrifying” mobilisation of neo-Nazis and far-right extremism demonstrated at the “March For Australia” on August 31, and involved different groups to those who organised today’s anti-government rallies.
Ahsan was concerned by the large police presence. “It’s fairly shocking that people have been stopped and searched simply for attending a demonstration against the assault on Camp Sovereignty and [in support of] pro-migration and anti-racism,” he said.
“I’ve never seen that happen in my 20 years as an organiser and activist.”
Many protesters leading the anti-racism rallies disparaged police, including one individual who held a paper mache pig dressed in a Victoria Police uniform. There were also accusations of officers unfairly targeting protesters.
Some officers from the public order response wore protective gear and carried guns that fire rubber bullets. Previous victims of rubber bullets have suffered serious injury, disability and death, and the use of so-called “less lethal” weapons has attracted fierce criticism for years.
Outside the Victorian Parliament, protesters packed the intersection of Bourke and Spring streets. Most carried Australian flags, were draped in them, or wore garb and accessories bearing the Australian flag. Several described themselves as “white and proud”.
Fringe views dominated the rallies outside parliament. One speaker described fugitive and alleged police murderer Dezi Freeman as “a good man”, while others espoused conspiracy theories about COVID-19 vaccines, the World Health Organisation, governments and the media.
One of the leaders of the rally summoned the crowd to chant “f--- the media”, and called for journalists to be arrested and charged.
Former Liberal upper house MP Bernie Finn told one of the anti-government rallies he plans to again run for parliament at the next state election. Finn was a member of the Victorian Liberal Party but was expelled in 2022 for saying abortion should be banned, even for rape survivors. In 2023 Finn joined the Family First party as a Senate candidate.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece slammed those who attend rallies in the city looking for conflict.
“I’m sure most people coming into these protests are people with very good intentions, but there are also a lot of ratbags that are involved as well, and the collective consequence of all that protest activity is millions of Melburnians don’t get to enjoy their city,” he said.
