Swastikas daubed on Parliament House
B’NAI B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Anton Block has condemned the daubing of swastikas on Parliament House earlier this week as “the ultimate act of ignorance”.
B’NAI B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Anton Block has condemned the daubing of swastikas on Parliament House earlier this week as “the ultimate act of ignorance”.
“Under [the swastika’s] banner, the Nazis oppressed, tortured and murdered millions of innocent people – six million of whom were Jewish,” Block told The AJN.
According to police, CCTV footage showing a man spray-painting at least four swastikas on the front of the Spring Street building is being reviewed. The words “Emapat”, “U.N Nato Pacific”, and “Colaboration” (sic) were also painted.
“The State of Victoria is and has been a beacon of multiculturalism for decades,” Block said. “Governments from both sides of the House have enacted laws to protect and preserve the uniqueness of the multitude of ethnicities, cultures and religions that choose to make Victoria home.
“By this act, the perpetrator has not just damaged Parliament House, they have attacked a pillar of life in Victoria.”
Jewish Community Council of Victoria president Nina Bassat said: “There are two questions to be asked. The first is ‘how did it happen’, which addresses the issue of security, and the second is ‘why did it happen?’”
“Clearly there are people who wish to disturb the harmony we enjoy for the most part,” Bassat continued.
“This type of attack on our society is disturbing, and in light of the nature of the graffiti, particularly distressing to our community.”
AJN STAFF
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