NSW police accused of ‘sickening’ double standard over neo-Nazi rally as Jewish groups demand answers

New South Wales police are facing accusations of a "sickening double standard" after authorizing a neo-Nazi rally outside the state parliament. The rally, attended by approximately 60 men, featured speakers promoting antisemitic tropes and calling for the abolition of the Jewish lobby. Jewish groups have condemned the decision as "unfathomable" and demanded answers, highlighting an alleged inconsistency in police responses to different types of protests. This event follows a similar neo-Nazi rally held in June, though it is unclear if that one was authorized. The NSW police commissioner stated he was unaware the Saturday rally had been approved, attributing the failure to inform the government to a "communication error." The premier, Chris Minns, said the event should not have been approved and has announced a review into why police did not oppose it, especially given their previous actions against other groups. The criticism comes from individuals and organizations who have experienced what they describe as harsh police treatment at other protests. A former Greens candidate, who required surgery after an alleged police strike at a pro-Palestine protest, expressed her dismay at the perceived lenient treatment of neo-Nazis. She argued that if police had been instructed to show "zero tolerance" to her group, the same approach should have been applied to the neo-Nazi rally. Jewish leaders echoed these sentiments, calling the authorization "astounding" and "unfathomable," particularly given existing laws against racial discrimination. They believe there is an inconsistency in how police address far-right extremism versus other forms of political expressio... download the app to read more