Updates on political activism within the community
Anti-Racism Conversations in Moreland
On 27 March, locals and concerned anti-racism advocates from surrounding suburbs met at the entrance of Bulleke-Bek park to discuss what should be done about the racist incidents in Moreland.
Prompting the meeting was an incident that occurred on Saturday 20 March, when a local resident spotted an extremely large piece of pro-Nazi graffiti along the upfield line in Brunswick. The resident reported the graffiti to Moreland Council and also rallied some friends together to try and paint over it herself.
The graffiti was completely removed three days after it was reported, as there was no way to get official action from VicTrack, who own the land around the Upfield Line, over the weekend. Cnr Sue Bolton encouraged the resident to organise the snap-action meeting, and they both presented their opinions on the day. Cnr James Conlan, also in attendance, highlighted the inability of Council to act quickly in circumstances like this, but that a community task force could be created to unofficially paint over far-right and offensive graffiti.
The racist graffiti seems to be a direct response to the ‘antifa’ (the name of an anti-facism group) mural that had been painted on that part of the wall recently. After the racist graffiti was completed, 7 individuals were photographed in front of the work. Apparently the group responsible had donned KKK robes whilst in Brunswick.
Participants also talked about the need to be on high alert for the ‘entry point’ issues for the far-right, such as anti-vax and anti-lockdown rhetoric, which can capture the attention of a broader audience that have not yet ascribed to broader far-right ideologies. The point was also raised that anti-semitism has been increasing in surrounding suburbs and that this was in large part due to the shifting dialogue of the far-right in the United States.
Relatedly, the Alevi community in Coburg has complained of growing antagonism from racist groups after the Coburg Lake monument symbolising the suffering of the Alevis was repeatedly desecrated late last year.
Coburg has a long and proud history of anti-racism actions; if locals feel targeted and aggrieved by racism, reach out to the online community or to Cnrs Bolton and Conlan.
By SAS & BB
The Coburg Meddler 