‘Fascists’ in Magan-djin

If you can’t speak out against this kind of thing
A crime that’s so unjust
Your eyes are filled with dead men’s dirt
Your mind is filled with dust
— Bob Dylan, Death of Emmet Till

We publish this extract from a declaration by the Solidarity and Resistance collective. We know the term fascist is used to mean different things and it is often a pejorative or an insult against a wide range of people, political movements, governments, and institutions since the emergence of fascism in Europe in the 1920s.

After the first World War, Italian fascists established paramilitary forces like the black shirts and later incorporating the Royal Italian Army under their political control. This military political alliance was crucial for Mussolini’s rise to power. However the term fascist should be used judiciously because real fascists have a military style organization which was not present in Brisbane during the so called March for Australia on Sunday the 31st of August 2025.

There is at least one instance of black shirts marching on the streets of Brisbane. On that occasion, when the black shirts attempted to attack a Justice for Palestine Magan-djin rally, police exerted physical force to deter them.

Ian Curr, Editor WBT, 1 September 2025.

–oOo–

The so-called “March for Australia” organised in Magan-djin and other major cities this Sunday is intended for nationalists, neo-nazis, and white supremacists to use the event to shift public sentiment towards their own agendas.

The fascists have even sought support from Bob Katter and his family, specifically his pro-israel son Robbie Katter MP. This is ironic since Bob’s grandfather came as an immigrant to Conclurry in Queensland from Bsharri in Assyria (now Lebanon) in the 1890s. The fascists are anti-semitic and anti- immigration even though the wealth of the Australian economy is created by migrants like the Lebanese, Greeks, Chinese, Vietnamese, Italians, Spanish, and so on.

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WBT understands self-identified neo-nazis spearhead these rallies and may be providing “security” for the event. The organisers strongly urge all people, but particularly marginalised people who are the primary targets for these white supremacists, to consider their safety first and foremost this Sunday if planning to head into the CBD.

A counter-rally has been called by a coalition of local groups this Sunday, 31st August, at 11am in King George Square. WBT understands those organising this event are doing so strategically and with participant safety in mind.

There are long histories of countering fascist movements globally and locally. Looking back only a decade to the right-wing Reclaim Australia movement in this city, it was the overwhelming counteraction by the local community through protest that ultimately defeated them.

Many Italian and Spanish people who came to North Queensland fought fascism during the Civil War in Spain and later during the second World War in Italy.

The anti-fascist movement unequivocally condemns all forms of racism and hate, including Islamophobia, antisemitism, xenophobia, ethno-nationalism, and anti-Indigenous and anti-immigrant sentiment. We condemn all attempts by the far-right to exploit public concern over cost of living and housing affordability in this city to curry favour for their racist agendas.

WBT understands that the organisers can’t allow fascists to mobilise openly unopposed, and they also encourage anyone who may be thinking about attending the counter rally to consider their safety and vulnerabilities, and make informed choices about the way they participate.

The organisers say those who will show up to the counter rally regardless, that they see you, and will stand with you.

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Here is one comment from a pro-Palestine activist:

“Zionists ultimately want pro-Palestine rallies to be shut down. It may be the case that this “Rally for Australia” is designed to create havoc and put the general public off rallies to give the Govt an excuse to clamp down on future rallies in general.“

Follow Solidarity and Resistance Collective (@solidarityandresistanceco) for solidarity actions in Magan-djin, and more info about what to expect this weekend.

Meanwhile, in Byron Shire:

From the river to the sea, always was always will be.