Violent attacks marred Newcastle’s March for Australia at the weekend, with participants physically and verbally abusing counter-protesters.
The nationwide event saw thousands of people gather for anti-immigration rallies across the country on 31 August.
Hundreds also came together in Newcastle’s Pacific Park to join the movement, but chaos shortly followed.
A small group of counter-protesters gathered in defiance of the march, setting up camp on the meeting site once the rally had moved elsewhere.
However, what occured next stunned many, including Ivy.
“We didn’t think they would come back to Pacific Park,” she explained.
“So, we were just having a picnic and dancing to our music, and then all these people showed up and started harassing us.”
When the two groups came head-to-head, Ivy said there was only a line of policemen and a footpath separating them.
Soon, those from the March for Australia side broke through the barrier and began violent attacks on the counter-protesters.
“I heard this man say, ‘I’m going to rape it out of you’, and then before I knew what was happening, there were four men on top of me pinning my arms to the grass,” Ivy recalled.
“It all happened very quickly.
“The police pulled them up and pushed them away from me and that was it.
“They didn’t ask me if I was okay, they didn’t have a word with the other guys.
“They just left it at that and that really shocked me.”
Sadly, Ivy’s experience wasn’t isolated.
A NSW Police spokesperson said while no arrests were made, four people were issued move on directions at the event.
But, Ivy admitted it didn’t make any difference to the behaviour of those involved.
She said she witnessed the march participants drinking heavily and hurling homophobic slurs at many of the counter-protesters.
The controversial event gained national attention for the behaviour of participants across the country.
“They said there were no neo-Nazis there, but at the same time there were people doing the Hitler salute,” said Ivy.
“They acted in such violence and hatred that even if they did have a point that they wanted to get across, the only message they got across was that they are hateful and violent people.”
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