I think Vera is spot on - all happening to a backdrop of Uranium mining.
Also a paradox regarding the racists who like to perceive others as somehow ‘lower’ than themselves - people who feel lowdown on the social scale actually NEED these people they are hating on to shore up their own uncertain sense of social identity. They like to reassure themselves there are people lower on the scale of humanity than they are.

As a resident of Perth, and the Grandson of Dutch immigrants (who faced similar attitudes in Queensland from the 1950’s), I can say I find these stickers highly offensive and embarrassing. The stupidity is particulary pronounced given the amount of wealth thats been pumped into Perth/WA from our good relationship with Asia - and the bogans that have done well out of this.

I’d definitely support a crack-down on displaying or selling this kind of material! It’s the closest I’ve come to road rage.

Article 4

States Parties condemn all propaganda and all organizations which are based on ideas or theories of superiority of one race or group of persons of one colour or ethnic origin, or which attempt to justify or promote racial hatred and discrimination in any form, and undertake to adopt immediate and positive measures designed to eradicate all incitement to, or acts of, such discrimination and, to this end, with due regard to the principles embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the rights expressly set forth in article 5 of this Convention, inter alia:

(a) Shall declare an offence punishable by law all dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred, incitement to racial discrimination, as well as all acts of violence or incitement to such acts against any race or group of persons of another colour or ethnic origin, and also the provision of any assistance to racist activities, including the financing thereof;

(b) Shall declare illegal and prohibit organizations, and also organized and all other propaganda activities, which promote and incite racial discrimination, and shall recognize participation in such organizations or activities as an offence punishable by law;

(c) Shall not permit public authorities or public institutions, national or local, to promote or incite racial discrimination.

But we have a brave new world to embrace..
While the rights and safety of Indigenous women and children in the Territory need to be addressed.. so also must the rights and dignity of the rest of the population be preserved.

Fundamental to this end is a relevant education system.. (not teaching that “cat says meow”).. with culturally relevant material which will not only preserve ancient Indigenous cultures and languages for future generations.. but to see them thrive and blossom for the benefit of the whole country …

A country whose citizens have marched in the major capital cities in support of their indigenous brothers and sisters right to self determination, land rights, and a better life… and in vast numbers… half a million in Sydney alone.. prepared to take responsibility for the dreadful suffering inflicted on our Indigenous people…
That march saw SORRY written boldly across the sky above the Prime Ministers residence … This act demanded an apology from our new incoming Prime Minister.. who said Sorry on our behalf in a national address which the country was permitted to stop work for.. to watch..

We have shown our desire to see our indigenous communities move forward to a better future.. and on their terms.
Every act that impedes this progress must be deplored.

Our government on our behalf has a mandate to improve conditions for our Indigenous peoples.. it just needs to be shown the way..

Perhaps a FORUM in the northern Territory to bring together interested people like the Canberra forum..
To create a blueprint for the future.. to focus attention on ways the country can help…
In Victoria after the bush-fires peoples SO wanted to help and their heart’s bled not to be afforded the opportunity..

Maybe a competition for kids to design their own curricula and teaching material… it’s bound to be better and more relevant than the rubbish they are being subjected to at the moment.. (has anyone told the education department cats are responsible for extermination of native species..)

We need to look at the big picture here I think.

Two other issues remain - the apparent inaction of the Alice Springs Council - did Donohue contravene the current by-laws and would Council officers have taken any action? Apparently not.
And would the matter would have been treated differently by Council and staff under the proposed new by-laws?

The other matter - and this relates to Bob D’s comment about the minibus - is the number of “F..k off, we’re full” and similar stickers seen on cars in Alice, Darwin and elsewhere - who are these people that feel this way? Do they represent the “softer” edge of the movement that Bob refers to?

And from the number of such stickers I’ve seen around the flat you would need a fleet of 40 seaters to hold them, not just a minibus!

Point taken about giving extremists oxygen, but if they can fit in a mini-bus it’s a bit of a coincidence that I’ve been invited several times to join or learn about such organizations in the course of conversations in bars and elsewhere. And I don’t even have blue eyes, or a Charlie Chaplin mustache.

edited

As for those paranoid individuals who worry that “The Invisible Empire of the Australian Knights of the KKK” and “groups such as Blood and Honour and Southern Cross Soldiers” are “at the forefront of the Fascist movement in Australia” - this may be true, but the “movement” you speak of must be small enough to fit in a mini-bus. Where is any evidence to the contrary?

You seem to indicate that one wing of this movement relocated from Toowoomba to Townsville recently. These freaks have no discernible following, and the thing they most crave is your attention and the publicity you provide for them - something that hysterics and sensationalist journos are often willing to give them.

Racism anywhere is abhorrent, pointless and feeble-minded - this is just one story about it, one example of it, but one where authorities felt they were either unable, or unwilling, to act - that is the unfortunate part.

I don’t think it is being suggested that Alice Springs is more intrinsically racist than any other given part of the country and of course there are good news stories to balance the bad - it’s just that they seldom make sensational news (unfortunately). I’d far rather see stories about the positive things that are going on in the world, but usually you’re lucky if there’s one “puppy rescue” or other feel-good story on the nightly news - the rest is doom, gloom and disaster. What this says about human nature, I’m not sure, but most aspects of man’s inhumanity to man have ceased to surprise me, if not to sadden me.

I think in the end we all agree that the actions of “white power” guy are bad and that we would prefer he and all others like him cease and desist from trying to stir up (further) trouble. I’d be interested to see a follow-up story on this that tells what, if any, action the council or police decided could be taken. If Red is able to be charged and a conviction is upheld, I hope the magistrate sentences him to some re-education and community service, though I’m probably too optimistic if I think he’s likely to see the light. Still - worth a try, yes?

And the posts here about neo-nazi organizations should cause you to do a double-take on what looks to be an “isolated dickhead”. Those organisations will be watching community reactions to this “isolated dickhead” very closely as a testing of the water, and it’s conceivable they put him up to it.

Chris, I’ve apologised for name calling in relation to you and no, I never use my real name in any internet forum.

Anyway, I think you lot (those attacking my contributions) are just as guilty of not reading what was actually said.

I abhor racism, especially the organised white thug neo-nazi variety. My entire beef with this whole story and thread has been that Alice Springs has been singled out as somehow worse than anywhere else. It is about how this town is being represented. I do not for a minute suggest that racism is not abhorrent, dangerous and a serious social problem.

But from what other posters have said, it seems the real hot beds of neo-nazism are far away from Alice Springs in places like Toowoomba and Townsville. I did some research on nutters like the SCS mentioned by AsDusty … they are all based in cities like Sydney and Melbourne. So why portray Alice Springs as the centre of neo-nazism in Australia, when much bigger problems lie elsewhere?

There are just as many positive stories of racial harmony and reconciliation in this town, for example the garden on the Council lawns just opened today celebrating indigenous and Afghan culture. And this from a ‘neo-nazi’ supporting council? And the many people of many races who work tirelessly and compassionately in many different fields assisting indigenous people every day.

Come on, this town isn’t perfect and there is a long way to go, but we’re no worse than anywhere else. In fact we’re probably much better in some ways.

Ah, the last refuge of a scandal - Walypala gets defeated on every point, so he plays the ‘you live in an East Coast city’ card.

As to other people being misinformed, afraid it’s you big guy. Red did sell his t-shirts (he was witnessed doing so by two separate residents).

If you actually read the story (or perhaps ask someone to read it to you) you’ll note that he denied selling the shirts, until I told him we had a photo of his for sale sign, at which point he called me a f**king n*gger lover and then admitted selling numerous t-shirts.

Given you’re so proud of your views, why don’t you tell everyone you’re real name… [queue the deafening silence].

Jammiegirl: Thanks for the critical piece of the puzzle which shows just what a big story Chris has reported here:

“The Advocate has also received legal advice that due to the suspending of the Racial Discrimination Act and the weak nature of the NT Anti-Discrimination Act provisions the police probably won’t be able to prosecute.”

Micae: No one anywhere here walks around with this rubbish on. The nutter had them for sale but didn’t sell any to anyone, and can’t even give them away by his own admission. You are totally misinformed (actually, you made that up yourself).

AsDusty: Who can argue with penetrating logic like that?

I’ve wasted enough time here. You lot should actually get out of the east coast cities sometime and inform yourselves first-hand about the country you live in so that you are not so easily duped. Have a nice life in fairy tale land.

To reiterate:
1. NO-ONE supports the nazi guy … that is the whole point.
2. Racism exists in Alice Springs, as everywhere else.
3. Racism in Alice Springs is a two-way street.

edited

There is an undeniable and extremely strong undercurrent of racism in this town and occasionally it surfaces in an ‘isolated’ incident such as this one (or the bashing death of Mr Ryder). Pretending it doesn’t exist and ignoring dickheads like this gives this guy and his racist buddies the go ahead to do whatever they want.

This is clearly a case of racial vilification and should be treated as such.

“A whole police local area command, a town council, and a territory government, shrugging their shoulders at complaints of a neo-nazi distributing racial-hate paraphernalia in the middle of an Australian town. That’s a story.” And that my friend is alice springs racism in action!