Protest against Milo Yiannopoulos in Melbourne
The Campaign Against Racism & Fascism held a successful demonstration outside Milo Yiannopoulos’ sold out Melbourne shows in Kensington last night with up to 500 people taking part despite the last minute release of the location details. Milo is well known for his provocative views and is a key figure within a growing international far right movement known as the Alt Right. The protest had been organised with the aim of drawing attention to the fact that Milo is a Nazi sympathiser and to involve as many diverse people as possible.
During the evening, dozens of local residents from the flats in Kensington and Flemington joined the protests as hundreds of people turned up in their community to see Milo promote racist and islamophobic views while being protected by heavily armed police officers.
Local fascist grouplets True Blue Crew, Soldiers of Odin, and known figures on the Australian far right including Neil Erikson, Blair Cottrell, and Avi Yemeni also gathered outside the venue to support Milo and attack anti-fascist protesters.
Despite heavy policing the protest was defiant and loud and continued through three Milo shows.
“Our loud, clear and defiant protest showed Milo he is not welcome in Australia, and not welcome to push his racist, sexist, bigoted views in our communities,” says Tess Dimos, CARF protest organiser. “Despite attempts by the Victoria Police to intimidate protesters and local residents we continued to collectively and courageously raise our voices against Milo and everything he stands for.”
“It was so important that Milo’s targets, diverse and united, exercised our free speech to protest Milo’s poisonous, dangerous ideas and prevent a fascist movement from growing,” adds fellow CARF protest organiser, Debbie Brennan. “CARF will continue to challenge and oppose the far right in Melbourne as part of a global anti-fascist movement that could not be more critical.”
For interviews or further information, contact:
Tess Dimos 0403 490 200 or Debbie Brennan 0425 733 256
Campaign Against Racism and Fascism is a united front of diverse groups and individuals. Our common aim is to prevent fascists and their far-right allies from building a fascist movement in Australia.