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AFTER A WEEKEND OF HATE, WHAT COMES NEXT?
Progress, arrests, and why Melbourne must say enough is enough.
WHAT'S BEING DONE?
After the crimes we saw committed at East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, Miznon restaurant and a business in Greensborough last Friday night, it is clear that not enough has been done to combat antisemitism here in Melbourne.
However, I have seen some progress this week, including:
- The first meeting of a new Anti-Hate Taskforce chaired by Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and including Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush, which I participated in.
- A detailed proposal from the Victorian Coalition to introduce a much-overdue protest registration system to limit disruption and intimidation, while protecting free speech.
- Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Plan for government and the Australian community.
Anti-Jewish hate is a centuries old problem that has undergone a serious and unwanted revival in recent years. There is no quick fix, but it seems there is a deep willingness to try and turn the tide.
Jillian Segal, the Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, has outlined a significant number of actions in her plan that the JCCV is already undertaking, including with local councils, in the interfaith and intercultural space and in general community education around antisemitism and social cohesion.
This plan also highlights key areas where more needs to be done, including online and more focus on the ongoing security needs of Jewish community facilities, such as schools, synagogues and museums.
I particularly highlight the work done by the Victorian Opposition to address the repeated protests that have left many in our community reluctant to visit the city due to safety fears. As well as creating a hostile environment in the CBD, these protests have welcomed radicals and extremists week-after-week. They have normalised hateful rhetoric and witnessed celebrations of dangerous terrorists. As we have said many times, enough is enough.
THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT
We have been heartened by the support that we have received from our fellow faith leaders.
Early on Friday evening last week, I attended a special Shabbat service at Melbourne Hebrew Congregation with their friends and neighbours from St John’s Toorak Anglican Church. It was a Shabbat of solidarity, unity, and the sharing of traditions and culture. At the time, we did not know what would transpire just a few kilometres away at East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation.
This week, I met with Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, Peter Comensoli, representatives from the Catholic, Anglican, Uniting, and Lutheran Churches, as well as a leader of the Shia Muslim community outside East Melbourne shule this week.
The JCCV also received heartfelt messages of support from friends in the Sikh, Ba’hai, Buddist communities, as well as from the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, Victorian Multicultural Commission Multifaith Advisory Group, Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia, Australian Multicultural Foundation and Intercultural Society.
There is a broad acknowledgement that hate crimes against Jewish people damage our society as a whole. We thank our friends from the bottom of our hearts for their support.
POLICE UPDATE
Victoria Police have made four arrests in relation to events on Friday night.
- Angelo Loras has been remanded in custody and will appear in court on July 22. He is charged with reckless conduct endangering life, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, criminal damage by fire, and possessing a controlled weapon in relation to the attack on East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation. Police will continue to examine Loras’ intent and ideology to determine if the incident is in fact terrorism.
- Three people have been charged with assault, affray, riotous behaviour and criminal damage in relation to the riot outside Miznon. They include a Antwany Arnold, who has been refused bail. Arnold is currently facing other charges relating to conduct at protests and breached his bail conditions to allegedly participate in the Miznon attack. He will face court again on July 18.
- Two women – a 28-year-old from Footscray and a 28-year-old from Essendon – have also been charged with assault, affray, riotous behaviour and criminal damage. They have been bailed and will appear in court on September 25.
- Police have also released CCTV footage of five people who were seen causing criminal damage to a business in Greensborough, setting three cars alight and writing hateful antisemitic slurs.
Together with Naomi Levin and Justin Kagan, CSG CEO, we met with Chief Commissioner Mike Bush and senior police on Friday. We expressed our gratitude for the quick arrests after the weekend’s attacks. We remain hopeful that Victoria Police will continue to work speedily to make necessary arrests in previous hate crimes against Jewish Victorians, including the Adass Israel firebombing, which remains under investigation by the Joint Counter Terrorism Team.
