J-WIRE

June 16, 2016 by J-Wire Staff
Federal election signage for the Liberal Party in the Victorian seat of Dunkley has been defaced with Nazi slogans.

The offending signage contained the slogan “Arbeit Macht Frei” which spanned the gates at the notorious Nazi concentration camps including Auschwitz.

Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt has told media that the daubing in the outer Melbourne suburb of Frankston was “disgusting and offensive to the extreme”.

He told the Herald Sun: “Not just for people throughout Dunkley, but it is viciously offensive to the Jewish community to use concentration camp slogans in an Australian political campaign.’

The signs featured Liberal candidate Chris Crewther and retiring Liberal MP Bruce Billson.

Australia’s B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC) has decried the defacing of the campaign billboards.

Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the ADC, said: “I am deeply troubled by this repugnant and malicious act of bigotry which is an attack on democracy and on the decency of all Australians.

The term Mussulman and the infamous Nazi phrase “Work makes you free” that appeared in Auschwitz and other death camps to taunt and dehumanize prisoners, are universal symbols of pure evil and genocide, and such cowardly vandalism is meant to intimidate and instil fear within religious, ethnic and cultural groups.

This type of hate, which is a gross violation of our values, has no place in Australia and runs counter to our country’s fundamental principles of acceptance and respect. Whenever such cowardly and despicable incidents happen, there is a chilling emotional damage to community members, especially to people of the Jewish faith who were affected by the Holocaust.

This is a sad and chilling reminder of the lengths some will go to express their prejudice, and a timely wake-up call that and that we have much work to do in countering this kind of abhorrent racism. The ADC stands firmly with Chris Crewther and Bruce Billson and calls on community leaders across the political and religious spectrum to express their outrage at these vile acts of intolerance.

We must all say enough, and do all we can to combat racism and promote inclusiveness.”

Read More: http://www.jwire.com.au/election-billboards-daubed-nazi-slogans/