Summary
Jacob Hersant, a self-described Nazi, was sentenced to one month in prison, becoming the first person in Australia jailed for performing an outlawed Nazi salute.
Convicted in Victoria for making the salute outside a courthouse in October, Hersant’s act followed new legislation banning the gesture.
Magistrate Brett Sonnet justified the sentence, citing Hersant’s intent to promote Nazi ideology publicly.
Hersant’s lawyer argued that his actions were nonviolent and claimed they were protected as political expression, stating plans to appeal the ruling on constitutional grounds.
I keep forgetting who said it, and I will rephrase terribly but there’s this antifa quote that goes something like “A person of color, homosexual, or Jew doesn’t really have a choice to stop being who they’re. Meanwhile, a fascist can stop spreading their hate towards others. That’s all we ask, and we won’t be tolerant.”