CAULFIELD GLEN EIRA LEADER
JORDY ATKINSON
SWASTIKAS have been spray painted at a popular playground in the heart of a large Jewish community.
One of the swastikas painted on children’s play equipment in McKinnon Reserve yesterday.
The incident at McKinnon Reserve yesterday follows similar anti-Semitic attacks in St Kilda and Balaclava last month where a neo-Nazi group, which the Leader has chosen not to name, put up more than 100 swastikas flyers at a primary school and on poles in the area.
Caulfield-based Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich said the rise in white-supremacist activity, particularly in areas with large Jewish communities, was “outrageous and shocking”.
“There is something very troubling and unsettling happening in our country with a dramatic surge of white-Supremacist graffiti and activities as right-wing extremists are spreading their cancer of hate,” he said.
“This is an alarming escalation which will leave many fearful, including holocaust survivors who suffered at the hands of the Nazis and which represents a serious threat to the fabric of our cohesive, multicultural life.”
Dr Abramovich said the latest attack “consciously targeted young children”.
“Imagine how distressed and traumatised a holocaust survivor taking their grandchild to this playground would be when confronted with this potent symbol of genocide and xenophobia,” he said.
“Clearly … radical groups are becoming more visible and active, attempting to attract new recruits to their vile and violent ideology.”
Former Israeli Defence Force soldier Avi Yemini, who runs the J-SAFE Melbourne Facebook group, said a number of people in the group had been deeply offended by the latest attacks.
The group has about 9000 members and is aimed at keeping the community up to date on local crime, including hate crimes.
“(The Caulfield) community is built from holocaust survivors so it was always going to hit us fairly hard but that’s (the group’s) aim,” he said.
“Their aim is to offend and instil fear among the community.”
Mr Yemini, who runs IDF Training in Caulfield North, was said there had been a “noticeable increase” in anti-Semitic attacks in the area recently.
Last Thursday an unidentified man called Mr Yemini’s workplace and threatened to “shoot him in the head” for his religious views.
A recording of the threatening call has been heard by the Leader.
Mr Yemini reported the call to police but said “hate crimes” needed to be “out in the open”.
“It is important to let the world know there are people out to harm and threaten based on religion,” he said.
“I have thicker skin than most but it’s still a scary thought.
“Growing up in the Jewish community you’re naturally a target, we’re always the first to get hit but I think there would be many people out there who would be outraged and disgusted by the fact this small minority are doing this.”
The graffiti has been removed.