Janice R. Andrews
Jacob Hersant, a 25-year-old identified as a far-right extremist, has made history as the first person in Victoria, Australia, to be convicted for performing a Nazi salute. The incident occurred outside the Victoria County Court shortly after the state implemented a ban on the fascist gesture. Hersant, who was at the court for an unrelated matter, was captured on camera by news outlets as he made the salute and expressed praise for Adolf Hitler.
The defense team’s attempt to challenge the constitutionality of the law was dismissed by the magistrate. Under Victoria’s newly enacted anti-Nazi salute legislation, Hersant could face up to a year in prison.
This landmark case represents a significant moment in Australia’s efforts to combat hate symbols. The ban, initially introduced by Victoria’s government, was soon followed by similar federal legislation prohibiting the public display and trade of Nazi symbols nationwide.
Dvir Abramovich, chair of the Anti-Defamation Commission, lauded the conviction as a “historic and thundering day for justice and decency.” Hersant’s sentencing, scheduled for Wednesday, is anticipated to be a crucial development in Australia’s ongoing struggle against extremism and antisemitism.
