Update 30/1/2024: Thomas Sewell has been released on bail from the Adelaide Remand Centre.
Prominent nationalist activist Thomas Sewell is likely to remain in jail until April after being arrested while making a speech in Adelaide on Australia Day and charged with loitering.
Mr Sewell, 31, the leader of the European Australian Movement, was arrested just seconds after starting to address about 70 members of the National Socialist Network (NSN) in front of the National War Memorial on Sunday, charged with fail to cease loitering, and remanded in custody until Tuesday.
He appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday along with 15 other NSN activists who were also arrested during the group’s Australia Day march, and charged with offences including loitering, “possess article of disguise”, “use Nazi symbol”, “refuse name” and “assault police”.
Video obtained by Noticer News shows nationalist activist Thomas Sewell being arrested seconds into a speech in front of the National War Memorial in Adelaide today.
“I am under arrest for celebrating Australia Day”, he says as police handcuff him. pic.twitter.com/Ac6unpgmTQ
— The Noticer (@NoticerNews) January 26, 2025
Another leading nationalist figure, Joel Davis, 29, was arrested while waiting outside court after first being told he was loitering and then being charged with using a Nazi symbol for displaying his group’s logo during the protest. He was later released on bail.
Mr Sewell refused to sign a bail agreement preventing him from associating with other NSN members and entering the CBD and called the situation “outright political persecution by corrupt SA Police officers,” The Advertiser reported.
“I do not acknowledge your ability to deny me access to the city of Adelaide as an Australian citizen,” Mr Sewell said.
“I have not broken the law, I was peacefully demonstrating and celebrating Australia Day, our national holiday, in public with my friends – who weren’t wearing disguises.”
When Magistrate Luke Davis suggested Mr Sewell sign his bail agreement, and called it “the preferable option”, Mr Sewell replied: “The preferable option would be to live in a democracy.”
BREAKING ⚠️
Australian nationalist Joel Davis has been arrested for “loitering” outside an Adelaide court where he was waiting for 16 National Socialist Network members to be granted bail, two days after they were locked up over an Australia Day march.
Follow: @NoticerNews pic.twitter.com/5D7rQdEgx9
— The Noticer (@NoticerNews) January 28, 2025
The 15 other members of the right-wing activist group charged over the rally, which was non-violent, also had their cases heard on Tuesday, including a 16-year-old charged with fail to cease loiter who was bailed to appear in court in March.
One pleaded guilty to loitering, 12 were released with similar bail conditions to Mr Sewell, and one other man, a 56-year-old from Western Australia charged with loitering, did not make a bail application and will face court again in March.
Many of the men could be heard yelling “blood and honour” as they were led up from the cells to court, 7 News reported.
After Mr Davis’s release he wrote on social media: “‘Social democracy’, I will fight this gross violation of my constitutional right to political communication, and I will win. Our ancestors fought for a free and White Australia, not this farce.”
Footage of Mr Sewell’s arrest sparked uproar on social media, with many Australians asking what crime was committed, and asking why far-left anti-Australian protesters were allowed to call for the country to be abolished and hold violent, antiwhite signs.
“Serious question: Why did these guys get arrested? In all the videos I saw, they were celebrating Australia Day, marching with Australian flags, and singing ‘Waltzing Matilda’. It just seems like another trampling of free speech from the police and government,” asked conservative commentator Kobie Thatcher on X.
“One group celebrating our nation’s history on our national holiday, another group calling for its death. Guess which group was blocked from entering the city, was constantly harassed by police and had 16 members arrested,” wrote another.
“Exactly what law is this breaking?” another popular post read.
Header image: Left, the NSN in front of the Light Horse Memorial in Adelaide. Right, Thomas Sewell being arrested (Noticer News).
