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Dozens of protesters have descended on a gym in Melbourne, claiming the building is being used as a base for some of Australia’s most extreme ‘Nazi’ activists.
The gym in the northwest of the city was surrounded by protesters from the activist group Campaign Against Racism and Fascism.
Protesters held anti-fascist slogans and chanted against the gym during the demonstration on Saturday afternoon.
At one point, a lone gym-goer appeared to point the middle finger at the crowd, before speaking to police officers on the scene.
The campaign group launched a call to action against the gym on Facebook, where they organized the details of the well-attended protest.
In the description of the events, the organizers wrote: ‘Migrants and refugees welcome! Nazi gyms are not!
The gym was surrounded by protesters from the activist group Campaign Against Racism and Fascism.
Protesters held anti-fascist slogans and chanted against the gym during the demonstration in north-west Melbourne on Saturday afternoon.
Activists from the Campaign Against Racism and Fascism group march during the protest
A neo-Nazi event is believed to have been held at the gym in December with a child photographed in attendance.
The protest on Saturday was attended by a mix of refugee, immigrant and LGBT+ groups.
Before the demonstration, the Campaign Against Racism and Fascism claimed online: ‘On December 24 it was discovered that the Nazis had been organizing in a gym.
‘The National Socialist Network, a Nazi organization… recently held an event… in the gym.
“From ‘training’ trips in the Grampians, disrupting indigenous and queer events in Melbourne and fascist photo ops on Elwood beach, this scum is getting active. It is clear that we need an anti-fascist response.
“As long as neo-Nazis organize and recruit, they will continue to be a threat to everyone in the communities they infect.
“We want to make it clear that we will counter the fascists wherever they rear their heads. We call on all anti-fascists to join our rally and help build the movement against the far right.”
Notorious neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell is believed to have been at the event and posed for photos with attendees.
Victoria Police officers talk to a man, believed to be a member of the gym, during the demonstration.
The campaign group launched a call to action against the gym on Facebook, preparing the event for Saturday.
The protest on Saturday was attended by a mix of refugee, immigrant and LGBT+ groups.
Before the demonstration, the Campaign Against Racism and Fascism claimed online: “On December 24 it was discovered that the Nazis had been organizing in a gym.”
The state governing body for amateur boxing is believed to have suspended the registrations of some trainers at the gym in light of the links.
Protesters at a demonstration organized by the activist group Campaign Against Racism and Fascism
The group’s claim about the Nazi organization being out of business appears to be a reference to an investigation by The Age, which found that trainers at the gym had ties to neo-Nazis in Victoria.
Boxing Victoria secretary David Pike called the allegations against the gym “disturbing” with an investigation launched in January.
Some trainers had their records suspended by the state’s governing body for amateur boxing in light of the links, the publication reported.
It arose that asThe ecret event was held in the gym on December 3, one that was festooned with swastika and SS flags and other far-right imagery.
Boxing Victoria secretary David Pike called the allegations against the gym “disturbing” and an investigation was launched in January.
It was also discovered that a secret event was held in the gymnasium on December 3, which was adorned with swastika and SS flags and other far-right symbolism.
The campaign group’s claim about December 24 appears to be a reference to an investigation that found he had ties to the far right.
Photographs of that gathering show a boy standing in front of a group of masked men and next to a bare-chested man with a swastika tattoo.
The same boy in the group photograph was seen in court weeks later supporting the founder of the European Australia movement, Mr Sewell.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the gym for comment.