A small Neo-Nazi group that bills itself as “the Hitlers you’ve been waiting for” surreptitiously put up anti-Semitic posters at three different Melbourne schools, including one showing a foot with a swastika crushing a Jewish insect, and another of a grasping, hooknosed Jew — a classic image in Nazi propaganda —alongside the words “Multiculturalism,” “Degeneracy” and “Reject Jewish Poison.”
The so-called Antipodean Resistance Group’s posters sent shockwaves through the city’s 60,000 Jews, stirring up feelings of anger and fear.
“I am appalled. This form of hatred on our doorsteps, on the doorsteps of our schools is terrifying and is a direct attack on Victoria’s prized Multiculturalism,” Jennifer Huppert, the President of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria was quoted as saying by the local J-Wire Jewish news website.
“To direct this at children is even more reprehensible. Unfortunately, domestic neo-Nazis and white supremacists appear to be emboldened by events overseas, and we must stop this hate speech in its tracks,” she said.
“History shows that hate speech can lead to hate-filled physical attacks, as we have seen very recently in [the American city of] Charlottesville.”
According to the Herald Sun, the posters contained messages such as "keep Australia white," "stop the hordes” and “join your local Nazi group” as well as calling for legalizing the killing of Jews.
“These sort of vile and disgusting comments and posters are not acceptable in the community and those individuals that placed them should be ashamed of themselves,” Education Minister James Merlino told the Herald Sun.
According to the Antipodean Resistance Group’s website, “being White is not enough. Every individual involved with Antipodean Resistance must dedicate himself to a higher standard of behaviour. We oppose substance abuse, homosexuality, and all other rotten, irresponsible distractions laid before us by Jews and globalist elites. We aim to build a society by Nature’s iron laws: those of National Socialism.”
While big in extremism, the group’s membership is believed to be rather limited.