Melbourne, Australia — Aboriginal leaders are calling for a hate crime investigation following a violent attack on a First Nations protest camp by a group of white supremacists. Approximately 40 men, many wearing black and led by known neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell, stormed Camp Sovereignty after a recent anti-immigration rally known as March for Australia.
Robbie Thorpe, a co-founder of Camp Sovereignty and an elder of the Krautungalung people, described the assault as targeting vulnerable individuals, particularly women. In the incident, they vandalized Aboriginal flags, confronted peaceful attendees, and left four people injured, two of whom required hospitalization due to serious injuries.
“They went after women first and caused significant chaos,” Thorpe stated, highlighting the psychological impact on attendees, particularly children who now feel unsafe returning to school. The assault was characterized by the perpetrators chanting racist slogans, including “white power,” further escalating fears within the community.
In the aftermath, Victoria’s Police Minister, Anthony Carbines, confirmed that counterterrorism police would collaborate on the investigation to assess the National Socialist Network’s involvement. Thorpe emphasized the premeditated nature of the attack, referring to it as an act of terrorism fueled by hatred against Aboriginal people and migrants.
The violence carried out by this group is not unprecedented; the National Socialist Network has a documented history of targeting First Nations individuals during significant national events. Their past actions included disrupting rallies and harassing public figures, suggesting a broader pattern of intimidation against Indigenous communities.
Amidst the chaos, demands have emerged for police accountability. Questions arise as to why officers were absent during the assault, especially given tensions that erupted earlier in the day between different protest groups. Thorpe remarked, “They should have been monitoring the neo-Nazis, but they arrived too late and did nothing.”
Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe condemned the violence as horrific and racist, urging for a thorough investigation into the police response. She noted that fear had seeped into families in the community, making children too scared to attend school. “We must confront the reality that these acts of terror have real consequences on lives,” she said, calling for federal investigators to address the situation, given the national significance of hate crimes.
As public outrage grows, the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria expressed solidarity with Camp Sovereignty and its mission of cultural preservation and political activism. The camp serves as a site for education, healing, and community gathering, underscoring the continuous fight for Aboriginal sovereignty in the face of systemic racism.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also condemned the violence, emphasizing that those espousing anti-immigration sentiments fail to recognize the historical significance of First Nations peoples as the original inhabitants of Australia. He stated, “That sort of violence has no place in our society.”
As the local community rallies around Camp Sovereignty, Aboriginal leaders remain resolute in their commitment to promoting awareness and justice. The event serves not only as a reminder of persistent societal issues but also as a reaffirmation of Indigenous rights and cultural integrity in Australia.