Jacob Hersant

Last updated

Jacob Hersant
Bornc. 1998 or 1999
NationalityAustralian
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 c. 1998 or 1999) is an Australian neo-Nazi and the first person to have been charged and convicted for publicly making a Nazi salute in the Australian state of Victoria. [1] [2] [3] He is a figurehead of the National Socialist Network and the European Australian Movement. [1] [2] The groups that Hersant are a part of focus on promoting white supremacy and far-right activism in Australia.

Contents

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. [4] Hersant and a co-offender, Thomas Sewell, were charged after an attack on three hikers in Victoria's Cathedral Range. [5] 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. [5] On 27 October 2023, Hersant and a co-offender were spared further jail time and sentenced to time already served. [6] [7] Following the initial sentence, prosecutors appealed claiming that the sentencing was manifestly inadequate. [2]

October 2023: Nazi salute

Following being spared of further jail time, in relation to his attacking hikers, [6] Hersant performed a Nazi salute outside the court. [8] [9] Hersant subsequently became the first person charged with making Nazi gestures in public, under new Victorian state laws. [3] [10] During the trial, lawyers for Hersant argued that the charge was not constitutionally valid as it violated the implied constitutional freedom of political communication. [11] On 8 October 2024, during a hearing in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, he was found guilty of the offence by a magistrate. [12] [13] On 8 November 2024 Hersant was sentenced to one month in jail and then released on bail after appealing against the sentence. [14]

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". [10] Following the event Hersant was arrested for "grossly offensive public conduct". [10]

Halloween 2024 Ku Klux Klan stunt

On 7 November 2024, Jacob was arrested along with three others in relation to a KKK Halloween costume stunt. [15] [16] He is expected to be charged with grossly offensive behaviour. [15] [16]

Views

In August 2021, in an undercover investigation by journalists, Hersant was recorded stating that Russian neo-Nazi Denis Kapustin "is a really good dude". [17] 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. [17] 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". [18]

Personal life

Hersant was reported to be 25 years old in April 2024. [19] [20] He has a two-year-old son as of October 2024. [21] [22]

References

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 1 2 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.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ "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.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. 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.
  11. ↑ 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.
  12. ↑ 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.
  13. ↑ Leanne, Wong (8 October 2024). "Melbourne man found guilty of performing Nazi salute to be jailed". ABC News. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. 1 2 Pearson, Erin (8 November 2024). "White supremacist accused of Ku Klux Klan stunt while awaiting jail term for Nazi salute". The Age. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  16. 1 2 Abbott, Lachlan (7 November 2024). "Neo-Nazis face charges after alleged Bunnings KKK harassment". The Age. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  17. 1 2 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.
  18. ↑ Leaving Hate. Four Corners . 17 February 2025. Event occurs at 8:18. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  19. ↑ 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.
  20. ↑ 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.
  21. ↑ Wong, Leanne (9 October 2024). "Far-right extremist Jacob Hersant to be jailed for Nazi salute but length of sentence still to be determined". ABC News . Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  22. ↑ "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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