Far Right Group Host Rally In Melbourne But Were Outnumbered By Counterprotestors Three-To-One

It was dubbed “the biggest event on the Nationalist calendar“, and today around 50 supporters of the anti-immigration patriot group True Blue Crew turned up at their annual Melbourne call-to-arms — one of multiple events held across the country with an aim to keep Australia free of immigrants.

But this year, the group were outnumbered by counterprotestors. Approximately 150 Melbournians turned up in opposition to the True Blue Crew, responding to a plea from the Campaign Against Racism and Fascism.

Around 50 at the True Blue Crew rally. More than 150 from their opposition, the Campaign Against Racism and Fascism, a couple of hundred metres away. pic.twitter.com/ZanaULU0ys

— Paul Dowsley (@pauldowsley7) June 24, 2018

The event had been promoted on the True Blue Crew’s network of Facebook pages for months, and had attracted the interest of hundreds of sympathisers online.

“Bring ya family and friends and of course don’t forget your Aussie Flags,” a post on the crew’s Facebook page, published on Saturday, read. “Let’s get out there and show everyone that having Aussie Pride isn’t racist, it ‘should be’ the 1 thing that every single person that lives in this great country should have. AUSSIE PRIDE NATION WIDE”.

According to their Facebook page, they are an “active Pro-Australian group, against Islamisation, open border policies, refugees, asylum seekers and the left wing.”

The two protesting groups were separated by a strong Victoria Police presence. After a number of hours of chanting, crowds dispersed.

It’s the third year in a row that the True Blue Crew has held this event. In attendance at the Melbourne protest was Neil Erikson, the man who became involved in legal proceedings with Toll after abusing former senator Sam Dastyari at a Melbourne bar.

Protests were also held in Sydney and Perth, and the group hopes to expand to more capital cities next year.