Counter rally against Reclaim Australia, neo-Nazis

On July 18, Melburnians will say to Reclaim Australia and neo-Nazis: “GET OUT! NEVER AGAIN!”

Melbourne’s third counter-mobilisation against Reclaim Australia (RA) and United Patriots Front (UPF) on July 18 is expected to far outnumber previous ones in April and May. According to Campaign Against Racism and Fascism (CARF), an organiser of these counter-demonstrations, this is partially because RA and UPF have extended their focus from Muslims to include the Left, unions, Aboriginal Australians, feminists and LGBTIQ community.

Vashti Kenway, a CARF activist, explains: “From the beginning, Melburnians have consistently come out to stand with Muslims and show that we will not be divided. We also know that far-right nationalism and its inbuilt bigotry doesn’t stop there. Scratch through the Islamophobia and you find the same bigoted hatred against all groups that don’t fit the White Australian “family values” — First Nations, people of colour, independent women, LGBTIQ people, unionists and more. People are coming out to stand up for themselves as well as each other.”

Debbie Brennan, National Union of Workers Community Member and CARF activist, adds: “Unionists will be out in force. We understand that fascists must be stopped while they are still small and weak, before they can grow into a violent movement. As individuals, most union members also come from the social groups targeted by fascists. We also know that fascists want to crush unions because of our collective power to galvanise the workforce and our communities against them.”

Answering the UPF’s publicised threats of violence, Brennan and Kenway say that the community is not intimidated. Brennan adds, “People are saying they’re even more determined to counter-rally on Saturday. And they have experienced the power of collective, disciplined counter-mobilisations.”

Kenway concludes: “They also know the horrific consequences if we don’t stop the fascists now.”

Melbourne’s counter-mobilisation will gather from 10.00 am on the steps of Parliament and will stay for the whole day.