Violent protests as far-right activist Lauren Southern kicks off speaking tour in Melbourne

A protester yelling ‘I love Muslims’ has stormed the stage during alt-right provocateur Lauren Southern’s speech. 

Nita Habibi was tackled by security at the event after throwing herself at the speaker in front of the auditorium. 

Habibi shouted ‘I love freedom of speech’ and ‘I love refugees’ as she was dragged out of the event at La Mirage Reception and Convention Centre in Melbourne’s north. 

Dramatic footage shows security bundling the protester off the stage, with Miss Southern apparently unharmed. 

As Habibi was dragged off stage, Miss Southern’s supporters can be seen cheering and clapping.

Violent protests have erupted near the venue where Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux’s speaking event on Friday 

Miss Southern will be travelling across Australia for her speaking tour 

‘[Southern spouts an extremely Islamophobic rhetoric that is nothing short of hate speech. She is a dangerous individual whose false views on Muslims stir up polarisation and violence,’ Habibi told The Australian after the event.  

Violent protests erupted outside the event where Southern, 23, and co-speaker Stefan Molyneux kicked off their Australian tour on Friday night.  

A number of protesters got violent and began to throw rocks at a bus arriving with ticket holders, the Herald Sun reported. 

Violence has erupted between protesters and counter-protesters, with punches thrown and people being dragged over protective barriers.

Victoria police are on the ground in the area, including riot police and mounted police, who are working to keep the protests at bay. 

The violent protesters could be heard shouting slogans, ‘unite to fight the right’ and ‘Nazi scum’. 

Violence from within the crowd of protesters is also being reported, with punches thrown and some being dragged over the protective barrier

Violence from within the crowd of protesters is also being reported, with punches thrown and some being dragged over the protective barrier

The violent protesters could be heard shouting slogans such as 'unite to fight the right' and claiming anyone with a ticket to the event was 'Nazi scum' (Lauren Southern pictured) 

The violent protesters could be heard shouting slogans such as ‘unite to fight the right’ and claiming anyone with a ticket to the event was ‘Nazi scum’ (Lauren Southern pictured) 

Police anticipated violent protests and earlier this week let event organisers know that it would cost them $68,000 for the police presence. 

Victoria police insisted on being present for crowd control and security after another right wing activist, Milo Yiannopoulos, visited Melbourne in December 2017, prompting violent protests from the far left. 

More than a dozen men were sought by police after Milo Yiannopoulos’ speaking show descended into chaos.

Traffic police were forced to close parts of the Hume highway near the La Mirage Reception and Convention Centre after more than 100 protesters, some covering their faces, stormed the area

Traffic police were forced to close parts of the Hume highway near the La Mirage Reception and Convention Centre after more than 100 protesters, some covering their faces, stormed the area

A number of protesters got violent and began to throw rocks at a bus arriving with ticket holders 

A number of protesters got violent and began to throw rocks at a bus arriving with ticket holders 

Miss Southern (pictured) and her speaking partner Stefan Molyneux are set to speak in Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane after Friday’s talk in Melbourne

Left-wing protesters flocked to Stubbs Avenue, in the city’s north-west, ahead of the controversial commentator’s sold-out show on December 4.

Police in riot gear intervened when verbal clashes turned physical between around 500 left-wing and 50 right-wing activists.

Several protesters were seen throwing punches and rocks, while others brandished make-shift weapons including wooden clubs and sticks.  

Police had anticipated violent protests and earlier this week let event organisers know that it would cost them $68,000 for the police presence

Police had anticipated violent protests and earlier this week let event organisers know that it would cost them $68,000 for the police presence

Victoria police insisted on being present for crowd control and security after another right wing activist, Milo Yiannopoulos, visited Melbourne in December 2017 (picture from Southern's event)

Victoria police insisted on being present for crowd control and security after another right wing activist, Milo Yiannopoulos, visited Melbourne in December 2017 (picture from Southern’s event)

Yiannopoulos, who held his first Australian tour last month, slammed the ‘violent’ left-wing protesters for causing the trouble outside the event.

‘There was a lot of kerfuffle out front,’ he told Alan Jones on 2GB Radio the day after the chaotic scenes.

‘It was not as the newspapers reported ”a clash between the far left and far right” it was the left, showing up, being violent to stop freedom of speech.’ 

Miss Southern and her speaking partner Stefan Molyneux are set to speak in Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane after Friday’s talk in Melbourne.  

The violent protesters could be heard shouting slogans such as 'unite to fight the right' and claiming anyone with a ticket to the event was 'Nazi scum'

The violent protesters could be heard shouting slogans such as ‘unite to fight the right’ and claiming anyone with a ticket to the event was ‘Nazi scum’



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