A group of youths have celebrated Australia Day brandishing swastikas and Nazi flags, referring to the holiday as ‘victory day’.
Images of the party, taken at a home in Western Australia, have been shared and widely condemned on Facebook.
‘Stay white Australia. Happy victory day,’ the post reads accompanied by an image of the party with a swastika-emblazoned flag visible in the background.
A group of youths have celebrated Australia Day brandishing swastikas and Nazi flags, referring to the holiday as ‘victory day’
‘Stay white Australia. Happy victory day,’ the post reads accompanied by an image of the party with a swastika-emblazoned flag visible in the background
The photo was originally posted by a Facebook account that has since been de-activated.
A person with knowledge of the party in Kalgoorlie told Daily Mail Australia the group of youths were originally bragging and ‘pretty proud’ about the image.
After receiving huge backlash, the young man began backtracking and instead said the symbol was in reference to the Buddist swastika which represents ‘good fortune’.
The swastika, which was stolen and adapted by Nazi Germany in the 1920s, is a sacred figure used in Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, and has been seen in ancient Egyptian, Roman, Greek and Native American artwork.
Another image being circulated from the same party shows the outline of Australia carefully mowed into the lawn of the property, with a swastika covering the eastern states of the country.
Another image being circulated from the same party shows the outline of Australia carefully mowed into the lawn of the property, with a swastika covering the eastern states of the country
The Facebook accounts of the people who attended the party have references to racist terms visible to the public, with one account even having a propaganda poster of Hitler commented on their timeline from another party attendee (pictured)
The Facebook accounts of the people who attended the party have references to racist terms visible to the public, with one account even having a propaganda poster of Hitler commented on their timeline from another party attendee.
Messages seen by Daily Mail Australia show one girl pictured at the Australia Day party denying she was aware of the flag and was only there to pick up a friend so they ‘wouldn’t drink drive’.
Several concerned locals also confirmed they have contacted the respective places of work of the individuals in the photo to inform them of their actions.
The swastika symbol (left), which was stolen and adapted by Nazi Germany in the 1920s (right), is a sacred figure used in Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, and has been seen in ancient Egyptian, Roman, Greek and Native American artwork