Loading...
Welcome to Anarcho-Punk.net community ! Please register or login to participate in the forums.   Ⓐ//Ⓔ

Nazi intimidation in Melburn, Australia

Discussion in 'Anarchism and radical activism' started by butcher, Oct 2, 2009.

  1. butcher

    butcher Experienced Member Uploader Experienced member Forum Member


    2,118

    2

    18

    Sep 8, 2009
     
    I'm involved in the Barricade Books anarchist infoshop/bookshop, here's what happened last Monday, 28th Sep...

    Recently, the Melbourne Anarchist Resource Centre (MARC) in Northcote was attacked by neo-Nazis. We believe the attack was in response to a recent anti-fascist action which happened in Burwood. (see http://indymedia.org.au/2009/09/14/anti ... in-burwood). More statements may follow from the groups who use the space, but for the moment one of those present has written the following description of what happened.


    “At 3pm Monday the 28th of September, several of us were sitting in barricade bookshop when four men entered through the front door. One of them, who was carrying a can of mace, yelled for us to sit down and that they had a message to deliver (he also asked who was in charge!). They wanted to know if any antifa were in the room. They told us they wanted slack bastard and that antifa actions on their businesses would be met with reprisals. They referenced recent antifa actions but did not refer directly to a specific action. They proceeded to deliver a message that amounted to threatening that the MARC space would be the first point of call if there was anymore antifa activity in Melbourne. They pushed over two bookshelves and swept some zines off the table as they left. They were all characteristic skinhead nazi folks (white, between 20 and 35, well built, shaved heads, tattooed… one even had a ‘screwdriver’ top on, dressed for the occasion). Nobody was hurt, and there was no damage done to the space, just some disorganised books. We were all a bit shaken, but looked after each other.”



    at the moment we're looking into improving security in the space, and we have tentatively planned to hold a public meeting on the 15th Oct to discuss a political response to this situation, I'd like to invite all anti-fascists in Melbourne to come along!
     

  2. ungovernable

    ungovernable Autonome Staff Member Uploader Admin Team Experienced member


    4,422

    117

    24

    Aug 21, 2009
    Male
    Canada  Canada
    Holy shit...

    We had a similar story here.... Some zine in quebec wrote an article about a nationalist group in Quebec City, then they attacked a library where the anarchists were hanging out, with knivex, baseball bats, chairs, etc...
     
  3. theoldpunk

    theoldpunk Experienced Member Experienced member Forum Member


    105

    2

    7

    Sep 19, 2009
     
    I heard about this from @ndy Slackbastard.

    When militant anti-fascists started hitting back in the UK in the 70s, it was because fascist groups were again doing this sort of thing on a regular basis - attacking left-wing paper sales, demos, meetings, venues etc. It was even worse if you were part of a minority ethnic community.

    The Squads (who later became part of Anti-Fascist Action) took the fight to the enemy's door, hitting their 'hard men' harder. Slowly, after a lot of violence between both sides, AFA taught them a lesson. It wasn't pretty, and a few of ours ended up in prison as a result. But the fascists eventually understood that we would not back down when we met on the streets. As a result, they were forced to go underground. They no longer marched, public meetings stopped and their gigs had to be in secret.

    So you really only have two choices in your current situation. Surrender or fight. Our politics dictate that we do the latter.

    You need to get a strong group of like-minded people who are willing and able to engage in miltant anti-fascism. Violence is only one tool (albeit a necessary one), and not everyone has to be a streetfighter - you'll need people to gather intelligence, produce and distribute literature, contact the media to challenge fascist ideas and promote anti-fascist ones, make links with sympathetic groups and individuals etc etc. Find out who their key players are and make sure they fully understand the consequences of further attacks on our side. Operate on a need-to-know basis, keep your mouths shut and leave your egos at the door.

    For inspiration, I recommend reading 'No Retreat' by Dave Hann and Steve Tilzey, a first hand account of part of that battle between us and them. Sadly, Dave died from cancer earlier this week, but his legacy lives on through these words.

    The challenges we face today may be different from those of the past, but the principle ramains the same - no pasaran!

    Good luck comrades.
     
  4. Bananaman

    Bananaman Experienced Member Experienced member Forum Member


    294

    2

    3

    Aug 9, 2009
     
    That is a nice post The Old punk. I would love to read the No Retreat book, is there a way to find it on-line or maybe order or get it anyhow?

    Also what you said fight or surrender may be true for UK in the 70's or even now, but I live in a country where violent nationalists outnumber people that would get involved in antifa action by at least 100 to 1, and open street warfare is really not an option. You have to think twice before you do anything and wage your options wisely... There are places where it is far worse like Russia...
     
  5. PuddaWudda

    PuddaWudda Member Forum Member


    12

    0

    0

    Sep 5, 2009
     
    Slightly off topic, but i was at the recieving end of violence earlier this week, when i was walking back from a gig at a pub. I was with one mate, and i was wearing a 'Fuck the BNP and their bullshit' tshirt which i had made, and i had the misfortune of coming across aforementioned skinheads, who started following us, then broke into a run. My friend managed to get away, but i got caught up with, and recieved kicks to my head ribs and stomach, and got spat on. They left, and i had to walk the couple of miles home covered in blood. I told the police, but there was nothing much they could do about it, when all i could say about them was they were skinheads, mid 20/30s, well built, so they havent done anything, i dont think.

    And the worst bit? I'm only 16.
     
  6. butcher

    butcher Experienced Member Uploader Experienced member Forum Member


    2,118

    2

    18

    Sep 8, 2009
     
    PuddaWadda, that suxs.
    Hope yr recovering ok
    Thanks to the support from everyone else
    Old punk: The nutzis already have to organise meetings and gigs in secret over here, and they don't hold marches often (Southern Cross Soldiers -'reclaim the beaches' on Invasion Day is the only one in Melbourne I know of this year, consisting of a few drunken dickhead teenagers who were promptly told to shoo, by the police though...)

    thanks heaps for taking the time to give yr advise, I certainly agree that our politics dictate fighting these bastards, although I'm not really sure whether a militant Antifa-style response would be the best tactic in the Melbourne context, most people hate nazis here, the nazis are few in number, as are the people that would be willing to engage with them in this fashion. we've had great success before just having public anti-nazi marches on nazi affliated businesses, community awareness programs, etc, forcing these businesses out.
    Not that a diversity of tactics cant be mutually reinforcing :D
     
  7. ghost in the void

    ghost in the void Experienced Member Experienced member Forum Member


    148

    0

    1

    Aug 8, 2009
     
    wow. the timing of that was interesting. i recently "lost the plot" on the PE forums and had a schizo-affective episode (pretty much while online) where i starting raving about nazis (i think, i'm too embarassed to look at PE board at the moment). true story. and i didn't even hear about the barricade incident.

    we have heaps of this kinda shit happen in melbourne. neo-nazis are fuckheads.

    anyone here who is involved in the PE community please pass on my apologies if i was over the top.
     
  8. ghost in the void

    ghost in the void Experienced Member Experienced member Forum Member


    148

    0

    1

    Aug 8, 2009
     
    ATT: username: "butcher".

    i reposted your post on the PE forum, since i was asked.

    i am a highly trained MA practitioner, and i suggest anyone you wants REAL resolution of these kind of events BUILD THEIR SKILLS. i offer free training of "non-violent" styles (gendai budo: judo, jujutsu, aikido... armed and unarmed, 18 years experience) and i suggest that anyone who thinks nazis are a problem STOP MEETING like a bunch of politicians and START TRAINING.

    your words won't save you. your mind and body will.

    PM for info if need be. i am over the apathy of punks. FIGHT BACK with love. love moves mountains. nazis are lightweight compared to that.
     
  9. butcher

    butcher Experienced Member Uploader Experienced member Forum Member


    2,118

    2

    18

    Sep 8, 2009
     
    The Melbourne Anarchist Club (MAC), the group who owns and runs this space has just released a statement, here it is:


    MAC statement on neo-Nazi attack on MARC

    This statement has been prepared by the ‘Melbourne Anarchist Club’ (MAC), the owners of the ‘Melbourne Anarchist Resource Centre’ (62 St Georges Road, Northcote), in response to recent threatening behaviour by local neo-Nazis.

    It is intended to explain what has happened, and our response to it.

    WHAT HAPPENED

    On the afternoon of Monday, September 28, 2009, four neo-Nazi skinheads, believed to belong to or to be closely associated with the neo-Nazi skinhead groups ‘Blood & Honour Australia’ and the ‘Southern Cross Hammerskins’, attended the MARC. The neo-Nazis interrupted a meeting of a group which happened to be meeting at the time (a group which campaigns against sexual violence).

    The neo-Nazis were highly agitated and very aggressive, confronting those present and preventing their exit by blocking the front door. They screamed and shouted, pushed over book shelves, crowded individuals, and threatened physical violence (including the use of capsicum spray or ‘mace’). The neo-Nazis demanded to know if the individuals present were ‘antifa’ (anti-fascists), and to be provided with the name and location of the blogger ’slackbastard’. After approximately 10 minutes, they left MARC with a final ‘Sieg Heil!’.

    One of those present at the meeting provides the following account:

    ------

    "At 3pm Monday the 28th of September, several of us were sitting in the Barricade bookshop when four men entered through the front door. One of them, who was carrying a can of mace [pepper spray], yelled for us to sit down and that they had a message to deliver (he also asked who was in charge!). They proceeded to deliver a message that amounted to threatening that the MARC space would be the first point of call if there was any more antifa [anti-fascist] activity in Melbourne. They pushed over two bookshelves and swept some zines off the table as they left… Nobody was hurt, and there was no damage done to the space, just some disorganised books. We were all a bit shaken, but looked after each other."

    ------

    It is understood that the most vocal neo-Nazi was a man named Justin. Justin is in his mid- to late-30s, and has tattoos on his hands and neck. He is the Victorian organiser for ‘Blood & Honour’, and is also closely associated with the Hammerskins. It is also understood that Justin works at ‘Hold Fast Body Art’ tattoo studio in Burwood (13 Burwood Highway).

    During the course of their intervention at MARC, Justin informed those present that his business had been graffitied, and demanded that ‘antifa’ cease all such activity, or that there would be violent repercussions for MARC and its users. It is understood that this was a reference to an alleged incident which took place on Monday, September 14, an account of which, ‘Anti-Fascists attack neo-Nazi’s business in Burwood’, was published anonymously on the Melbourne Indymedia website.

    There is no independent confirmation of this incident, but given Justin’s subsequent behaviour, we understand it to be true.

    In summary: on September 14, unknown parties graffitied a tattoo shop in Burwood with ‘anti-fascist’ slogans. Two weeks later, on September 28, four neo-Nazi skinheads, including an employee at the tattoo shop in question, attended the MARC in Northcote and assaulted a meeting of a group campaigning against sexual violence, threatening further violence upon the group, MARC, and its users, unless all ‘anti-fascist’ activity in Melbourne ceased immediately.

    OUR RESPONSE

    The Melbourne Anarchist Club remains committed to continuing to facilitate anarchist activity in Melbourne.

    Thus the Melbourne Anarchist Resource Centre will continue to remain open to the public, and to be used by a variety of groups, including those campaigning for an end to sexual violence, for workers’ rights, and for environmental preservation;
    as a venue for art, music and film;
    as a source of information on contemporary struggles for justice, as well as historical inquiry;
    and as a continuing resource for those, like the Melbourne Anarchist Club, who want to advance the cause of revolutionary, class-struggle anarchism.

    In addition to reviewing, along with the various groups which make use of MARC, our security and safety procedures, the MAC is organising an Open Day for the general public.

    The Open Day will take place on Saturday, November 28, and will include free food, entertainment, and a variety of other activities.

    More details will be provided in coming weeks.

    All are welcome.

    ¡No pasarán!

    ===

    For more information and enquiries:

    Melbourne Anarchist Club
    P.O. Box 494
    Brunswick
    VIC 3056
    AUSTRALIA
    melbourneanarchistclub@gmail.com
    http://mac.anarchobase.com/
     
  10. Irg

    Irg New Member New Member


    1

    0

    0

    Oct 21, 2009
     
    GO (MAC) IN MELBOURNE!!! Im from buttfuck virginia where the neo-nazis are basically unopposed because we only have a few handful of punks who arent afraid of em the rest of the people here just deny they exist. I going to create a Anti-Nazi league or a Antifa organization here but the support is either gonna be me alone or a few punks. Either way Im gonna let Virginia and America know history will not repeat itself and we will boot them out before the root
     
  11. t-bag

    t-bag Experienced Member Experienced member Forum Member


    112

    3

    0

    Oct 24, 2009
     
    From melbourne ey?,yet to visit..Im from sydney myself and although there are quite alot of "fascist and ignorant" individuals (Note the previous Race riots in Maroubra),The neo-nazi scene is somewhat smaller..I think that has to do with the fact that the Majority of the Skins in sydney are of anti-fascist or A-Political mindsets and frankly having no problems with those of others cultures. I have seen a few smaller groups around sydney city,but have yet to be threatened or involved in any serious drama. It's not the neo-nazi's i am particularly worried about,in a city like sydney For neo-nazis to start a race war would pretty much leave them digging their own graves. I'm more worried about the ignorance of the general public and the power the media has over them. The Riots that went down in sydney came simply because the morning news report had made claims that a man of middle eastern appearance had insulted "The Flag",The next thing u know every ACA program was running stories on how muslims refuse to intergrate and are insulting australian culture blah blah blah. "and with comments and newspaper headlines such as "Australia Get Angry" It was only a matter of time before a crew of "Patriotic"individuals acted on the term and a retaliation was inevitable. The media has made other attempts at exploiting asian immigrants and africans but as of yet it has only been very small in the way of physical action.
     
Loading...