Adelaide Holocaust Museum director Kathy Baykitch (left) and chair Nicola Zuckerman. (Jason Katsaras)

Neo-Nazis prompt SA parliamentary inquiry

A neo-Nazi gathering outside an Adelaide Holocaust museum has prompted the state government to establish a parliamentary committee inquiry into the use of extremist symbolism.

The Adelaide Holocaust Museum & Steiner Education Centre said that it was the victim of “vile anti-Semitism” when a group of neo-Nazis took photographs of them giving fascist salutes outside its premises, with the images appearing on extremist social media.

Today,  Multicultural Affairs Minister Zoe Bettison said that a Parliamentary inquiry will investigate neo-Nazi symbols, the activities of extremist groups, discrimination faced by targeted groups and the prohibition on symbols in other states.

The Victorian, New South Wales and Queensland Parliaments have all undertaken inquiries into bans on the displays of Neo-Nazi symbols.

Director at the Adelaide Holocaust Museum Kathy Baykitch said she was “horrified” by the latest affront, coming soon after the museum was targeted by a racist sticker.

“After 83 years from the start of the Second World War, it’s almost unthinkable that in 2022 we’re still having to deal with this,” Baykitch said.

She said the museum which operates educational programs on the Holocaust for school aged children is now in constant communication with  police.

“We’ve also had a lot of support from people in the community and a lot of heartfelt messages today from people reaching out and also supporting the museum standing up against this type of behavior,” she said.

Read the article by Jason Katsara in INDaily.