Dezi Freeman poster waved, rival protesters clash as anti-immigration protests underway
GEORGIE KIBEL, JACK NIVISON and STAFF REPORTERSListen to this article
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A man holds a placard with an image of fugative Dezi Freeman, as protesters march from Rundle Park in Adelaide on August 31, 2025. Picture: Getty
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A man has been spotted at the Adelaide “March for Australia” protest holding a placard featuring a picture of alleged cop killer Dezi Freeman. The sign featured the words ‘Free Man’, along with a Southern Cross symbol and black and white photo of the fugitive gunman.
The placard holder was among more than 1000 people who have gathered in Rundle Park for the controversial “March for Australia” event, which has been labelled an anti-immigration protest.
Protesters collide in Melbourne
Meanwhile, police officers have moved to keep rival protesters in Melbourne apart as thousands of people, some waving Australian flags, gather at Flinders Street Station on Sunday.
Cries of “Aussie, Aussie Aussie, oi, oi, oi” and “Albo’s gotta go” could be heard while others beat drums.
People carried signs with slogans such as “no voice, no treaty” and “3rd world people bring 3rd world problems”.
Counter protesters attempting to disrupt the gathering were blocked by a line of about 40 police. These protesters bearing Palestinian flags were stopped by police, who formed a human barricade at the corner of Collins and Swanston Street.
March for Australia supporters make gestures at counter rally participants, in Flinders Street, Melbourne. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
The right-wing extremists turned their attention towards them, and demanded police “let them march” and march north up Swanston Street from Federation Square.
The police issued a public order warning over a loudspeaker, telling them not to move north.
As the crowd became increasingly agitated, the riot squad were called in.
Rise Up Australia protest in Melbourne. Picture: NewsWire / Valeriu Campan
They were greeted with “boos” and jeers by the protesters who stood against the barriers.
Facing towards the right-wing protesters, about 10 officers carrying shields and guns with rubber bullets stood ready.
“For your safety and the safety of others, remain where you are or move south. Do not move north, or force may be used,” the police warned the crowd over a loudspeaker.
The protesters marched from Federation Square up Elizabeth Street.
They clashed with “anti-fascist’’ and pro-Palestinian protesters at the corner of Elizabeth and Collins Street.
Officers on horses stopped the two sides from meeting, and pepper spray was used on the counter-protesters. Police could be seen detaining multiple counter-protesters.
Police attempt to move on a small counter rally gathering near Federation Square in Melbourne. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
The crowd chanting “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, oi, oi,” then charged down Bourke Street towards the steps of the state parliament, where they gathered.
Protest organiser and far-right activist Hugo Lennon later addressed the huge crowd on the steps of parliament.
He hit out at Minister of Foreign Affairs Tony Burke for criticising the protest as “un-Australian”.
He told the crowd the next time they gather would be January 26, Australia Day.
Notorious neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell could also be seen at the front of the crowd.
A man stormed the stage and shouted “Always was, always will’’ into a microphone, before he was taken off the stage by Sewell.
A protestor is arrested in Melbourne. Picture: Getty
The protesters were told by Sewell to return to Federation Square near Flinders Street station, where they would disperse as a group.
However they were stopped by counter-protesters out the front of K-mart on Bourke St.
One man yelling “free Palestine” was arrested and escorted away by police.
A man is left bloodied after allegedly being attacked by pro-Palestinian protesters in Melbourne. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
Protestors have clashed on the corner of Lt Collins and Swanston St. Public order response teams were forced to intervene when a man burning a Palestinian flag was attacked by a counter-protestor.
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Major clashes at Melbourne rally
National Socialist Network members have clashed at Melbourne’s ‘March for Australia’ rally.
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Thousands gather in Sydney Bec Freedom maintains a loose leash on Sydney protest
Protester’s at Sydney’s anti-immigration “March for Australia’’ rally have arrived sporting patches for the National Socialist Network, an infamous neo-Nazi group.
An organised group of black-clad protesters were seen arriving about 11.30am at Belmore Park in Haymarket, where large crowds are gathered.
Protester’s at Sydney’s anti-immigration “March for Australia’’ rally arrived sporting patches for the National Socialist Network. Picture: NewsWire / Simon Bullard
The march, one of several around the nation, was set to make its way to Hyde Park.
The group of NSN members stood in formation close to the centre of the protest group, where loud chants could be heard.
The crowd has steadily grown since 11am, and chants of “Albo’s a w**ker” and “Albo has to go” could be heard.
Several crowd members were seen sporting Covid conspiracy-related clothing, as well as anti-immigration paraphernalia specifically pointed towards Muslim Australians and other minorities.
A rally taking place from Belmore Park in Surry Hills and finishing at Victoria Park, Broadway in Sydney. NewsWire / Simon Bullard
Anti-fascist and pro-Palestine counter-protesters were also expected to make their way through Sydney’s city centre.
The Japanese Consulate has emailed citizens in Sydney, urging them to stay away from locations where “potential clashes” could take place.
Japanese citizens were emailed in advance of the protests with advice on when and where marches would be happening, and how best to avoid them.
A translated version of the email urged citizens to “gather information from the media” and “avoid unintentionally approaching areas where protests are taking place or where there are concerns about possible impacts”.
“Depending on the situation of the demonstrations and protests, there is a risk of unforeseen incidents, such as clashes between demonstrators with differing views,” the message reads.
“If you are a victim, or you notice a Japanese national being victimised, please call the police.”
The woman who has been largely recognised as the face of the national “March for Australia” took the reigns of the Sydney protest, and was seen front and centre as the procession marched down Broadway.
Her real name is still unknown, but the woman who goes by the pseudonyms “Bec Freedom” and “Bec Walker” could be seen spearheading the march.
Ms Walker has denied links to neo-nazi groups, although her Facebook page has repeatedly reposted content from “The Noticer,” a website which has been endorsed by prominent neo-nazi Joel Davis as “good quality media”.
As the march turned onto Broadway, one protester raised a flag which explicitly called for “white unity” as others were heard yelling anti-migrant slogans specifically targeted towards Indians.
Bec Freedom at the front of the Sydney march as it moves down Broadway. Picture: Supplied
As the group reached Victoria Park, there was some confusion between protestors as to where they would be heading next, with Ms Walker and a few others heading into the park as the majority of protestors splintered off to the right and continued west along Parramatta Road.
Ms Walker and her small gaggle of supporters seemed visibly frustrated by the fractured march, as they were forced to wait for the rogue procession to redirect itself back into the park.
Eventually the crowd gathered around a bench, where Ms Walker led chants of “Aussie nation, stop the Invasion”.
While speaking to the crowd, Ms Walker alleged she had been the target of “racism” while planning the event.
Matthew Hopkins, a former soldier and lawyer of Thomas Sewell, appeared to speak at the rally alongside other prominent right-wing figures including current NSW legislative council member John Ruddick, who called for a five-year immigration ban, much to the delight of the crowd.
Current NSW legislative council member John Ruddick spoke at the rally. Picture: Daily Telegraph
During the speeches, members of the crowd were heard shouting various racist slogans, some of which had been chanted repeatedly by NSN members during their midnight march in Melbourne a few weeks ago.
Speakers were regularly drowned out by sporadic chants, slogans and cheers from the crowd in what appeared to be an overtly improvisational gathering of people with a vast spectrum of anti-government, anti-immigrant and racially charged views.
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Protestors are marching across Australia's capital cities
Protesters continue to march through the heart of both Sydney and Brisbane during...
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‘Sack Albo’: Brisbane protests
In Brisbane, protesters gathered at Roma Street parkland on Sunday morning, as the crowd chanted “sack Albo, sack Albo”.
Those marchers in their thousands began moving towards Parliament House.
Police in Brisbane are also guarding a small counter-protest, with increasingly violent threats flung towards the counter-protesters by marchers.
The March for Australia’s opaque leadership has raised suspicions over its links to the NSN, led by Thomas Sewell.
Protesters at the event voiced a smattering of grievances, from cost of living, the housing crisis, power bills and immigration.
I do NOT believe the rhetoric that we lack skilled people in Australia... this is about importing CHEAPO labor !!
Go Aus! Go USA! We don't want to end up like the cuck island UK now do we? Keep it up!
