Jacob Hersant

Last updated

Jacob Hersant
Born1998 or 1999
Organization(s) National Socialist Network (2020–present)
Antipodean Resistance (formerly)
Criminal statusGuilty
ChildrenYes
Criminal chargePerforming a Nazi salute in public
Details
StateVictoria

Jacob Hersant (born 1998 or 1999) is an Australian neo-Nazi, known as a figurehead of the National Socialist Network and the European Australian Movement. He was the first person to have been charged and convicted for publicly making a Nazi salute in the Australian state of Victoria.

Contents

Early life and education

Jacob Hersant was born in 1998 or 1999. [1] [2]

He attended University High School in Melbourne. He is reported to have written on Iron March: "I was an edgy Atheist leftist gamer at 14, then I started playing a lot of Company of Heroes and that got me interested in World War 2. I always liked the Germans better since I have German heritage", and went on to write that after coming across the 2013 film Adolf Hitler: The Greatest Story Never Told on YouTube, "I've been a bad bad goy ever since". [3]

Views and associations

Hersant was formerly associated with the Antipodean Resistance and the Lads Society, along with Thomas Sewell. [3]

He is known as a neo-Nazi, [4] , and figurehead of the National Socialist Network and the European Australian Movement. These groups promote white supremacy and far-right activism in Australia. [5] [6]

In August 2021, in an undercover investigation by journalists, Hersant was recorded stating that Russian neo-Nazi Denis Kapustin "is a really good dude". Hersant was also recorded stating that he had put the Russian into contact with Jarrad Searby and that they were both into mixed martial arts. [7]

After his conviction in 2024 for performing a Nazi salute in public, he stated to journalists "I'm ready to go to jail, because I'm a Hitler soldier and what I'm doing is right". [8]

Activities

May 2021: Cathedral Range assault on hikers

On 14 May 2021, Hersant was charged after a raid by counter-terrorism police at a house in the Melbourne suburb of Rowville. [9] Hersant and a co-offender, Thomas Sewell, were charged after an attack on three hikers in Victoria's Cathedral Range. [10] Up to 15 other masked men attacked two passengers in a car and smashed windows. On 1 August 2023, Hersant and Sewell pleaded guilty to one charge of violent disorder. [10] On 27 October 2023, Hersant and a co-offender were spared further jail time and sentenced to time already served. [11] [12] Following the initial sentence, prosecutors appealed claiming that the sentencing was manifestly inadequate. [6]

October 2023: Nazi salute

Following being spared of further jail time, in relation to his attacking hikers, [11] Hersant performed a Nazi salute outside the court. [13] [14] Hersant subsequently became the first person charged with making Nazi gestures in public, under new Victorian state laws. [15] [16] [5] [6]

During the trial, lawyers for Hersant argued that the charge was not constitutionally valid as it violated the implied constitutional freedom of political communication. [17] On 8 October 2024, during a hearing in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, he was found guilty of the offence by a magistrate. [18] [19] On 8 November 2024 Hersant was sentenced to one month in jail and then released on bail after appealing against the sentence. [20]

July 2024: Train station protest

In July 2024, Hersant and 40 masked men entered a Melbourne train station, carrying a banner that stated "Mass deportations now". [16] Following the event Hersant was arrested for "grossly offensive public conduct". [16]

Halloween 2024 Ku Klux Klan stunt

On 7 November 2024, Hersant was arrested along with three others in relation to a KKK Halloween costume stunt. [20] [21] He is expected to be charged with grossly offensive behaviour. [20] [21]

April 2025: Anzac Day disruption

On 25 April 2025, Hersant was escorted by Victoria Police away from an Anzac Day dawn service in Melbourne following disruptions to a Welcome to Country. The shouting by the small group of far-right extremists was drowned out by applause by many in the 50,000-strong crowd, and condemned by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and other political leaders, as well as RSL Victoria president Robert Webster, many war veterans, [22] [23] [24] and Sunrise TV host Natalie Barr. [25]

Personal life

As of April 2025 Hersant lives in Kensington, Melbourne. [22] He has a young son. [19] [26]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Silva, Kristian (22 March 2024). "Prosecutors seek jail over 'terrifying' neo-Nazi attack on Victorian hikers". ABC News . Archived from the original on 9 October 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  2. ↑ Cosoleto, Tara (23 April 2024). "Appeal on neo-Nazi leaders' jail terms dismissed". 9news.com.au . Archived from the original on 9 October 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Antipodean Resistance and the Lads Society". The White Rose Society. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  4. ↑ Oboler, Andre (20 August 2021). "'The Jewish community owes a debt to the mole who infiltrated the neo-Nazi network'". The Jewish Independent. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  5. 1 2 McKenzie, Nick; Tozer, Joel (16 August 2021). "Inside Racism HQ: How home-grown neo-Nazis are plotting a white revolution". The Age . Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 Silva, Kristian (23 April 2024). "'Counter-productive' to send neo-Nazi back to jail over Victorian hiker attack, appeal court rules". ABC News . Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  7. ↑ McKenzie, Nick; Tozer, Joel (21 August 2021). "From kickboxing to Adolf Hitler: the neo-Nazi plan to recruit angry young men". The Sydney Morning Herald . Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
  8. ↑ Leaving Hate. Four Corners . 17 February 2025. Event occurs at 8:18. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  9. ↑ Cucchiara, Sam (2021). "Neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell is 'prepared for and expects confrontation', court told". 9now.nine.com.au. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  10. 1 2 Pearson, Erin (1 August 2023). "Neo-Nazi leader pleads guilty to attack on hikers". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2 August 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  11. 1 2 Sweeney, Karen (27 October 2023). "Neo-Nazi leaders spared further jail time over hiker attack". Nine News . Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  12. ↑ Silva, Kristian (27 October 2023). "Neo-Nazis walk free from court, spared further jail time over attack on Victorian hikers". ABC News . Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  13. ↑ "Melbourne man to be charged with making a Nazi salute under new laws, police say". ABC News. 1 November 2023. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  14. ↑ Taylor, Josh (27 October 2023). "Victorian neo-Nazis under police investigation over alleged salute for TV cameras". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  15. ↑ Woods, Emily (16 January 2024). "First person charged over Nazi salute facing jail time". www.9news.com.au. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  16. 1 2 3 Wang, Jessica (28 July 2024). "Notorious Australian white supremacist Jacob Hersant arrested at Melbourne neo-Nazi demonstration". News.com.au . Archived from the original on 28 July 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  17. ↑ Vallance, Syan (10 September 2024). "First-ever Victorian charged over making Nazi salute launches legal defence in court". ABC News . Archived from the original on 8 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  18. ↑ Silva, Kristian (8 October 2024). "Far-right extremist who challenged validity of Nazi salute ban becomes first Victorian to be found guilty of new offence". ABC News . Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  19. 1 2 Leanne, Wong (8 October 2024). "Melbourne man found guilty of performing Nazi salute to be jailed". ABC News. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  20. 1 2 3 Pearson, Erin (8 November 2024). "White supremacist accused of Ku Klux Klan stunt while awaiting jail term for Nazi salute". The Age. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  21. 1 2 Abbott, Lachlan (7 November 2024). "Neo-Nazis face charges after alleged Bunnings KKK harassment". The Age. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  22. 1 2 "Hecklers boo Welcome to Country address at Melbourne Anzac Day dawn service". ABC News . 25 April 2025. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  23. ↑ Liu, Summer; Wang, Jessica; Schmidt, Nathan; Packer, Clareese (24 April 2025). "Anzac Day services marred by wild booing, heated clash". news. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  24. ↑ "Anzac Day 2025 live updates – as it happened". The Guardian. 25 April 2025. Archived from the original on 25 April 2025. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  25. ↑ Parkes-Hupton, Heath; Brown, Natalie (25 April 2025). "'Cowards': Anthony Albanese slams hecklers who interrupted Anzac Day Welcome to Country". news. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  26. ↑ "Victorian prosecutors seek jail time for far-right extremist Jacob Hersant over Nazi salute". The Guardian . Australian Associated Press. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
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