Police are investigating after masked men unfurled a banner declaring ‘Jews hate freedom’ on the steps of the Victorian parliament building on Friday evening.
Video of the incident, posted to social media by Australian neo-Nazi Joel Davis, showed a group of masked men dressed in all black holding the banner.
Davis, who was unmasked apart from a large pair of sunglasses, said the Victorian government was ‘complicit in an agenda to take away your rights, my rights, all of our rights’.
‘This country does not belong to the Jews, it belongs to the white Australian people that built it,’ he said.
‘Jews hate freedom, and this government is complicit in the destruction of our freedoms.’
Davis was loudly heckled as he continued the incoherent rant.
‘Freedom for the white man,’ he chanted, while his followers responded, ‘the Jews must go.’
The group’s chants also included ‘Hail Victory,’ the English translation of the Nazi ‘Sieg Heil.’
Victoria Police said they were called to reports about 20 protesters displaying the banner outside Parliament House about 6.55pm on Friday
Davis was loudly heckled as he continued the incoherent rant about Jews and ‘the white man’
Victoria Premier Jacinta Allen reacted later on Friday, taking to social media to express her disgust.
‘This – this is why I am acting,’ she wrote.
‘Masked Nazis on the front steps of our democracy with a mission to make Jews in our state feel unsafe.
‘Antisemitism is rising around the world. I refuse to let Victoria succumb to it.
‘And we want to make it impossible for Nazis to function in this state – not just by banning their symbols and salutes of hate, but by putting their vilifying threats and incitements in the crimes act, where they belong.’
Ms Allan added: ‘Tonight, Victoria sends its love and solidarity to our Jewish community. You are part of us.
‘And to the Nazis on the front steps: it is you who are the freedom haters, and we will drive you out.’
Victoria Police said they were called to reports about 20 protesters displaying the banner outside Parliament House about 6.55pm on Friday.
The group’s chants included ‘Hail Victory,’ the English translation of the Nazi ‘Sieg Heil’
‘Police are investigating after an antisemitic sign was displayed during a protest in the Melbourne CBD on Friday, 20 December,’ a spokesperson said.
‘Police have been told members of the public who were present were outraged and verbally showed their disgust to the protesters. The group ran towards Fitzroy Gardens and fled the scene.
‘Victoria Police vehemently condemns antisemitic or racially motivated behaviour in our society and will not tolerate this kind of activity. Investigators are in the process of collecting evidence to identify those involved.’
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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