Sat Sep 06 07:59:52 UTC 2025: **News Article Summary:**
A far-right “anti-immigration” protest in Melbourne, Australia, culminated in a violent attack on Camp Sovereignty, a sacred Indigenous site and historic Aboriginal burial ground. Members of the neo-Nazi National Socialist Network (NSN) stormed the camp, injuring four people, after marching and chanting racist slogans. Critics accuse the police of a slow response and a bias towards the far-right, with allegations that officers used pepper spray on counter-protesters while appearing to protect the NSN demonstrators. Aboriginal leaders and Senator Lidia Thorpe have condemned the attack as a hate crime and criticized the lack of official recognition of its racist nature, citing systemic racism and Australia’s colonial legacy. While some arrests have been made, concerns remain about the institutional response to far-right extremism and the safety of Indigenous communities.
**News Article:**
**Melbourne: Neo-Nazi Attack on Indigenous Sacred Site Sparks Outrage**
Melbourne, Australia – A weekend “anti-immigration” rally in Melbourne descended into violence as members of the National Socialist Network (NSN), a self-described neo-Nazi group, attacked Camp Sovereignty, a sacred Aboriginal site, injuring four people. The attack raises concerns about the police’s handling of the event and the broader response to far-right extremism in Australia.
The “March for Australia,” promoted as a protest against immigration, saw NSN members chanting racist slogans before a group of 50 men stormed Camp Sovereignty, a site of historical significance to the Boonwurrung and Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. The camp symbolizes ongoing Indigenous resistance, and the attack left two injured people hospitalized with severe head wounds.
Witnesses claim the attackers, armed with poles and pipes, targeted women and desecrated the sacred fire and Aboriginal flag while shouting racial slurs. Naarm Frontline Medics alleged police only arrived after the attack and targeted the victims with pepper spray while obstructing medical care. Victoria Police confirmed that no arrests were made at the site.
The incident has ignited fierce criticism, with Aboriginal leaders and Senator Lidia Thorpe condemning the attack as a hate crime and accusing authorities of systemic racism. Senator Thorpe called for a full investigation, accusing the police of siding with the far-right. Video footage shared on social media appeared to show police using pepper spray on counter-protesters while protecting the NSN marchers.
While NSN leader Thomas Sewell and five other members have been arrested, the authorities’ failure to classify the attack as a hate crime has drawn further condemnation. Senator Thorpe stated that the refusal to recognize the racism inherent in the attack shows Australia has a serious problem. Critics are also concerned about the growing international connections of far-right groups like the NSN and the selective condemnation of far-right violence by official institutions in Australia. Aboriginal resistance organization The Blak Caucus has called for a nationwide day of action on September 13 to show solidarity with the camp.
First Piper 