The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC), Australia’s leading organisation fighting anti-Semitism and hatred in all its forms, has expressed its shock at the sale of Hitler and Golliwog money boxes at a Daylesford collectibles store. The Hitler statuette, positioned at a Sieg Heil salute at a is adorned with a swastika armband, while the eight golliwog money boxes have the word ‘nigger’ emblazoned on their backs.
Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the ADC, issued the following statement:
“Spreading hate and vilification is not a game and is not funny. It is absolutely obscene and insensitive that there are stores in Victoria that are not only displaying, but are also making money from the hawking of Nazi related memorabilia of an evil tyrant who symbolises the extermination of six million Jews and millions of others, as well as virulently racist items that promote demeaning, hurtful stereotypes. Imagine the pain a Holocaust survivor and an indigenous Australian, or other minorities, would feel seeing these items. The stall holder should have known better than offer these abhorrent and perverse objects for sale. Such vile paraphernalia is completely out of step with the Australian values of multiculturalism, inclusiveness and decency, and it is our collective duty to send a resounding message that these hateful materials have no room in our community. As a national leader in the fight against discrimination and bias, we will continue our long-standing campaign of making Australia a hate-free zone, and turning the spotlight on those who stock such sordid objects. We call on the sellers to do the right thing and to remove these money boxes, and to ensure that such a disturbing episode does not occur again.”
The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission, founded in 1979, is Australia’s leading civil rights organization fighting racism through educational programs that combat bigotry, prejudice and all forms of hatred.
For further information please contact Dr Dvir Abramovich on (03) 9272 5677.