Nazi swastika: Symbol found graffitied on tree in Melbourne CBD

There are concerns anti-Semitism is becoming a ‘fact of life’ after a Swastika was found scrawled on a tree hours after a move to ban it.

Just hours after a parliamentary committee recommended outlawing hateful Nazi symbols such as the swastika, one was found graffitied on a tree in Melbourne’s CBD.

The swastika was found scrawled on a tree surrounded by the Star of David last Wednesday afternoon by a Jewish woman aged in her 40s as she left her office on Collins Street.

Only hours earlier the parliamentary committee had recommended the Victorian government establish a criminal offence that prohibited the display of symbols of Nazi ideology, including the swastika.

It came after another swastika was discovered on the brick wall of a private building in Queens Parade, Fitzroy North on Tuesday, alongside the text “Hitler”, an image of a heart and the Star of David.

Civil rights activists have slammed the latest series of “terrifying episodes of neo-Nazi vandalism”, an upsurge they said was becoming the norm in Melbourne.

Portia Smith, who discovered the neo-Nazi graffiti in Fitzroy North, said she hoped anyone who saw similar Nazi scribbles would also take action.

“I wonder if we’ll look back at the graffiti that started appearing on the walls in the year after lockdown and consider if we could have been louder or braver or more determined not to turn a blind eye to the unacceptable that is apparently becoming acceptable to both believe and proclaim,” she said.

The swastika scrawled on a tree outside an office in Collins Street, Melbourne, on March 3, 2021. Picture: Supplied

Nazi graffiti on a wall in Queens Parade, Fitzroy North that was discovered on March 2, 2021. Picture: Supplied

“I’m not accepting this without a fight.”

Ms Smith said she had contacted the City of Yarra asking them to remove it.

NCA NewsWire has also contacted Yarra Council to ask if they can remove the offensive graffiti from private property.

In the meantime, Ms Smith covered up the neo-Nazi messaging herself with some postcards by artist Marco Luccio.

Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich, one of the nation’s leading anti-hate and civil rights organisations, said he was disgusted and appalled by the graffiti.

Nazi graffiti in Queens Parade, Fitzroy North covered by postcards. Picture: Supplied

“Another week, another series of terrifying episodes of neo-Nazi vandalism, an upsurge which is becoming the norm in Melbourne,” he told NCA NewsWire.

“I wish I did not have to say this, but the escalating drumbeat of anti-Semitism is now a fact of life in Australia.”

Dr Abramovich said the latest incidents were further evidence that racists and extremists were becoming less inhibited about expressing their sentiments.

Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich said racists and extremists were becoming less inhibited about expressing their sentiments. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

“This is not just graffiti on a wall and a tree, scrawled by cowards, those who seek to instil fear in our communities, it is an assault on our collective way of life and sense of safety,” he said.

“Words matter and can lead to violence, and those individuals who took the time to deliberately express their cruel and vicious bigotry are walking amongst us with evil in their hearts.”

The committee, which made the recommendation to outlaw Nazi symbols, said there had been an increase in public displays of Nazi symbolism and a rise in racially motivated incidents during the coronavirus pandemic.

The report said it was “important to send a clear message to the community that Nazi symbolism is not acceptable in any form and has wide-ranging, negative societal impacts”.

Premier Daniel Andrews has indicated the government would support action to outlaw the use of Nazi symbols.

A Melbourne City Council spokeswoman said a contractor would remove the swastika on Collins Street after being notified of the offensive graffiti by NCA NewsWire.

Dr Abramovich said he hoped all councils would have a policy to remove offensive graffiti regardless of whether it appeared on public or private property and that Victoria Police would hold perpetrators to account.

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