Australian Defence League
| Abbreviation | ADL |
|---|---|
| Successor | Patriots Defence League Australia |
| Formation | c. 2009 |
| Founder | Ralph Cerminara |
| Founded at | Sydney |
| Dissolved | c. 2016 |
| Type | Far-right |
| Location | Sydney, Australia |
President | Chris Rothwell |
President, Western Sydney | Nathan Abela |
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The Australian Defence League (ADL) was a militant far-right, white nationalist protest group. The group was anti-Islam, and was involved in making terrorist threats, abusing, doxxing and stalking Muslim Australians. The gang was founded in Sydney in 2009 as an offshoot of the English Defence League.
History
[edit]The ADL was founded in 2009 a registered not-for-profit organisation. They were founded as an offshoot of the English Defence League.[1] It was led by Ralph Cerminera until he stepped down from the position in 2014 after being found guilty of assault.[2] He was replaced as the group's leader by Chris Rothwell.[3] In March 2019, Cerminera was sentenced to 9 months in prison after assaulting his neighbour.[4]
Around 2016, the ADL splintered and, along with members from Reclaim Australia, gave rise to the short-lived Soldiers of Odin group.[5][6]
Activities
[edit]Stalking, verbal abuse and harassment
[edit]In 2014, the group came to national attention after it was revealed that ADL members and followers had been stalking and photographing Muslim women on public transport, verbally abusing Muslims, displaying anti-Islamic posters outside mosques, and threatening to blow up an Islamic school.[7]
Later in 2014, in what police believe was retaliation for the bomb threat, the home of Nathan Abela, former President of the ADL, was fired upon.[7] Following pressure by people associated with the #illridewithyou campaign, Facebook shut down pages of ADL.[8]
On 22 December 2014, two members of the ADL were involved in a brawl outside Sydney's Lakemba mosque, arrested, and charged with affray and behaving in an offensive manner. They were subsequently convicted and jailed for five weeks.[9][10]
Bendigo mosque protests
[edit]In 2014 and 2015, the organisation was involved in the Voices of Bendigo and Stop the Mosques Bendigo protests. The group was one of a number of far-right Islamophobic groups, including the Q Society, Reclaim Australia, True Blue Crew and the United Patriots Front, that opposed the construction of a $3 million mosque and Islamic community centre in Bendigo, Victoria.[11][12]
See also
[edit]- Antipodean Resistance Australian neo-Nazi group that emerged around the same time as Reclaim Australia.
- Australia First Party Australian far-right political party associated with Reclaim Australia.
- Far-right politics in Australia
- Far-right terrorism in Australia
- Islamophobia in Australia
- National Action (Australia) Australian neo-Nazi group.
- Romper Stomper (TV series) - TV series featuring a group similar to Reclaim Australia
- Yellow Vest Australia
- Antisemitism in Australia
References
[edit]- ↑ White, Alex (7 October 2014). "The pro-white gangs spreading race hate across Australia". The Herald Sun. News International. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ↑ Thompson, Angus (5 February 2019). "Anti-Islamist filmed attacking 'Uber driver' neighbour". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- ↑ Hall, Bianca (16 October 2015). "Street fights and 'internet vigilantes': Inside Australia's anti-Islam movement". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- ↑ Rawsthorne, Sally (14 March 2019). "Former leader of far-right movement jailed for foul-mouthed attack on neighbour". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
- ↑ Ballsun-Stanton, Brian; Waldek, Lise; Droogan, Julian; Smith, Debra; Iqbal, Muhammad; Peucker, Mario (9 October 2020). Mapping Networks and Narratives of Online Right-Wing Extremists in New South Wales (Report). Zenodo. doi:10.5281/zenodo.4071472.
- ↑ "Reclaim Australia, Five Years Later : Where Are They Now?". slackbastard. 9 April 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- 1 2 Rubinsztein-Dunlop, Sean (21 April 2014). "Tensions between Australian Defence League and Muslim community reach violent new heights". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
- ↑ Kimmorley, Sarah (18 December 2014). "Facebook Has Shut Down The Australian Defence League's Racist Page On Complaints From #illridewithyou Supporters". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
- ↑ "Australian Defence League leader Ralph Cerminara refused bail over Lakemba brawl". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 23 December 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
- ↑ Hall, Bianca (16 October 2015). "Street fights and 'internet vigilantes': Inside Australia's anti-Islam movement". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ↑ "Social Cohesion In Bendigo" (PDF). Victorian Multicultural Commission. Victorian Government. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ↑ "Far-right group spreading anti-mosque message in Bendigo". theage.com. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
 | This table's factual accuracy is disputed. (January 2023) |