Residents of a town on the New South Wales-Victoria border were left outraged after 50 masked men, believed to be white supremacists, marched through the streets chanting offensive slogans.
The group first gathered outside the Corowa RSL around midday on Saturday, with members seen carrying a large banner reading “white man fights”.
The figures, dressed head to toe in black and wearing balaclavas, were heard chanting white supremacist slogans, including “Australia for the white man”, before marching towards the city’s war memorial.
According to New South Wales Police, the crowd of about 50 people was “dispersed” by officers following reports of an unauthorized gathering.
“There were no arrests,” New South Wales Police said in a statement.
“While investigations into the incident continue, anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”
Community members criticized the group on social media, calling the demonstration “disgusting.”
“What a horrible thing has happened in our community,” one person said.
About 50 masked men were seen marching through Corowa, on the New South Wales-Victoria border, chanting white supremacist slogans on Saturday.
A figure associated with Victoria’s white supremacist movement posted on X claiming the march was because the local pork industry had been bought by multinational corporations.
He claimed that these companies were “importing” workers.
Horrified locals reportedly told the group to leave once the march began.
“When they were walking through the RSL parking lot, some locals had gathered there and were scolding them, telling them we don’t want racist people here and to go home,” Corowa resident Kendra Smith. he told ABC.
She believed the group was not local as she had never seen anyone like that in her town before.
“It was horrible because we have a lot of colored people here, it’s just disgusting,” Mrs Smith said.
“We heard one of them say to a local young man… I’m not sure of his ethnicity… ‘Fuck you, you stink’; he was only about 14.”
The figures, dressed in black from head to toe, were heard chanting white supremacist slogans before marching toward the city’s war memorial.
New South Wales Police said investigations into the incident were ongoing.
The incident comes just days after a self-proclaimed Nazi became the first person to be convicted under Victoria’s laws banning the Nazi salute in public.