Far-right extremists are targeting Geelong in a bid to “soak up” vulnerable and disenfranchised people as part of a recruiting drive, anti-fascist leaders have warned.
Far-right extremists are targeting Geelong in a bid to “soak up” vulnerable and disenfranchised people as part of a recruiting drive, anti-fascist leaders have warned.
Catherine Robertson, from the Victorian Socialists party, said neo-Nazi organisations like the National Socialist Network (NSN) are travelling to Geelong to “put the feelers out” in an effort to boost numbers.
Some of its members recently posed in front of City Hall and circulated “revolting” anti-immigration messaging on mobile app Telegram and social media.
Ms Robertson said the NSN, based in Melbourne, was expanding its network “and are organising.”
“It is a recruiting exercise, they are basically letting people know that they are in the area for people who are attracted to these sort of politics,” she said.
“They’re looking to find the ones that do exist in places like Geelong and then trying to activate them.
“Obviously most people in Geelong are disgusted by this, but they know it might reach a few who want to join them.”
The Geelong council building incident is just one of a few troubling incidents this year of hate speech and anti-semitic symbols being plastered across the city.
Jasmine Duff, from the Campaign Against Racism and Fascism (CARF), said it was “no surprise” right-wing movements were starting to recruit from Geelong.
Read the article by Mark Murray in the Geelong Advertiser.