{"id":87709,"date":"2023-11-15T23:09:45","date_gmt":"2023-11-15T23:09:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebritytidings.com\/?p=87709"},"modified":"2023-11-15T23:09:45","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T23:09:45","slug":"why-its-so-hard-to-stop-neo-nazi-public-hate-parades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebritytidings.com\/lifestyle\/why-its-so-hard-to-stop-neo-nazi-public-hate-parades\/","title":{"rendered":"Why it\u2019s so hard to stop neo-Nazi public hate parades"},"content":{"rendered":"

By <\/span>Simone Fox Koob<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The state government is combating a small, toxic group of neo-Nazis in Victoria.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Chris Hopkins<\/cite><\/p>\n

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It was a momentary movement, done casually and with a laugh, but caught on camera by a media scrum.<\/p>\n

Following a combative back-and-forth with journalists after being sentenced for assault, Jacob Hersant, one of two neo-Nazi leaders leaving Melbourne\u2019s County Court in October said \u201cHeil Hitler\u201d and raised a straight arm. <\/p>\n

Walking away, he quipped: \u201cNearly did it. It\u2019s illegal now, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

The action has set off a chain of events which will be intensely watched by the state government, police, lawyers, MPs and the country\u2019s neo-Nazis.<\/p>\n

Police charged Hersant on Friday under laws that came into force only a week before the action outside court. The ban on the Nazi salute was introduced after a group of black-clad men made the gesture outside Melbourne\u2019s Parliament House in March.<\/p>\n

That followed a ban on the Nazi swastika, as the government combats a small, toxic group of neo-Nazis in Victoria.<\/p>\n

Community condemnation of their public acts has been swift and strong, while the new Victorian laws enjoy bipartisan support and strong backing from Jewish groups.<\/p>\n

There are critics, though, of this legislative approach, who claim it\u2019s ineffective, potentially counterproductive, and will do little to curb the increasingly brazen activities of the groups. Authorities also remain concerned about the risk of far-right terrorism \u2014 is it getting worse?<\/p>\n

\u2018Looking to bring attention\u2019<\/h3>\n

In the past year, neo-Nazis have performed salutes on busy streets, outside council buildings and at restaurants and pubs, as well as the infamous parliament protest. They have intimidated people in public, gatecrashed rallies being held on everything from immigration, drag story time and trans rights, and spread antisemitic and racist messages through old-school propaganda campaigns including posters and stickers.<\/p>\n

Two weeks ago, a group dressed in black marched through Flinders Street station and boarded a train in the middle of the night, saluting and singing about White Australia in front of shocked passengers. Police originally said no offences were detected, but have since said the incident was still under investigation.<\/p>\n

Other activity has been more behind the scenes. An investigation by The Age<\/em> last year uncovered links between Legacy Boxing Gym, in Sunshine West, some of Victoria\u2019s most dangerous neo-Nazi activists, and a growing community of young men learning to box at the gym. Brimbank Council is investigating the gym with the help of Victoria Police.<\/p>\n

These are activities closely watched by the police, who say far-right terrorism is a serious and growing concern. Recently, ASIO chief Mike Burgess was asked about the expected reaction by the neo-Nazis to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. While not expecting them to plan acts of violence, he said the groups would likely exploit the conflict to promote their cause.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are looking to bring attention to it and recruit more members,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s this ramping up of propaganda that concerns experts, researchers and police, given the propensity for lone far-rights actors to quickly become radicalised and carry out violence.<\/p>\n

Anti-fascist researchers at the White Rose Society believe the National Socialist Network has become bolder on Melbourne\u2019s streets in the past year, developing a militant and visible street presence to attract recruits and appear threatening to the general population.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom this, they can create propaganda for a local as well as international far-right audience. This is achieved not just through actions, but visible street propaganda like misogynistic and violently racist stickering,\u201d the researchers say.<\/p>\n

Dr Kaz Ross, who researches far-right extremism and conspiracy groups, says that unfortunately, they have been successful in attracting attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cPart of that is the political landscape. They have successfully latched onto various issues and used them to recruit and wedge,\u201d she says. \u201cThey themselves say, people are used to seeing us around now, and unfortunately, I think that\u2019s right.\u201d<\/p>\n

Recent messages shared by the NSN and other right-wing channels on social media seen by The Age<\/em> show the neo-Nazis celebrating the rejection of an Indigenous Voice to parliament, framing it as a victory for white Australia. They are now targeting the treaty processes being undertaken by individual states. The war in the Middle East is also used to promote antisemitism and Islamophobia, particularly fearmongering about Muslim migration to countries in the west.<\/p>\n

\u201cUltimately, the thing is immigration,\u201d says Ross. \u201cThe end goal is to change discourse. They are not a mass organisation … I don\u2019t think the end goal is recruitment, it\u2019s to change the political discourse in Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n

Experts liken much of their recent activity to performance art, stunts that they can film for circulation on social media and which they know will get media attention.<\/p>\n

In its 2023 report on trends in antisemitism, one of the main things noted by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry was the increase in neo-Nazi antisemitic propaganda in the form of posters, stickers, particularly in eastern states and South Australia. The council recorded a 70 per cent increase in reports of this kind of antisemitic material.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor now, these neo-Nazis are promoting their racist ideology, producing hate propaganda material, recruiting new members, and engaging in legal activities aimed at bonding and planning, and solidifying the efficacy of their organisations,\u201d council researcher Julie Nathan wrote. \u201cIt would be wrong to dismiss them as a tiny lunatic fringe of racists.\u201c<\/p>\n

The Australian Federal Police also say that while the groups transition between online and offline engagement, using hate symbols and historical symbology as a key tool to attract attention and rally individuals, investigators are also aware of an increase in physical demonstrations.<\/p>\n

These stunts also present issues for the media. How much exposure should be given to a relatively small group, while still countering the harmful antisemitic sentiment they are trying to spread?<\/p>\n

When given the opportunity several weeks ago to comment on their sentencing for assault, Thomas Sewell and Hersant began by reciting white supremacist phrases before expressing their innocence, saying there were two sides to the story and claiming they had been targeted because they were \u201cpolitical dissidents.\u201d The media did not broadcast or publish the majority of their comments.<\/p>\n

University of Canberra\u2019s Dr Jordan McSwiney, who researches the far right, acknowledges that it\u2019s a difficult line for the media to walk.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat does responsible harm-reduction coverage look like? You can\u2019t not cover [neo-Nazis saluting on the steps of parliament] because it is newsworthy. It is important that the people in the community are aware that there are Nazis in their midst. That\u2019s something they need to know about so they can get rid of them. The difficult thing is how to report in a way that doesn\u2019t give neo-Nazis the legitimation that they\u2019re seeking. I don\u2019t think there\u2019s like a silver bullet for this,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe best way to fix this problem isn\u2019t to not report on it, but for newsrooms to actually invest in dedicated training and upskilling, particularly for junior reporters, about how to do this and how to do it responsibly. And acknowledging that responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said things like uncritically quoting neo-Nazis in an attempt to provide \u201cbalance\u201d was a common mistake that could be easily rectified. Media could also decide to avoid republishing propaganda created by the groups, such as videos, pictures or memes of their stunts.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really important to have people who have been working this beat for a long time, who are able to actually contextualise some of the players and their claims. They can identify what is clearly a propaganda stunt and report on it in a way that is more sensitive.\u201d<\/p>\n