United Patriots Front

United Patriots Front
Active 2015–present
Ideology ultranationalism
anti-Islam
anti-multiculturalism
anti-immigration
Far-right
Leader Blair Cottrell

The United Patriots Front (UPF), otherwise known as Fortitude, is a populist far-right street protest movement and Facebook group based in Australia which opposes immigration, multiculturalism and Islam.[1][2] It is a splinter group from the anti-Islamic Reclaim Australia group, formed after a dispute between Shermon Burgess and Reclaim Australia organisers.[3][4] The group has been described by a number of media outlets and journalists as a hate group,[5] and has claimed solidarity (along with leader Blair Cottrell) with various neo-Nazi organisations, such as Golden Dawn in Greece.[6] This has given rise to claims that the UPF itself is a neo-Nazi organisation.[7] While some supporters have repudiated these claims, videos and written posts were released in May/June 2016 to the group's social media pages defending National Socialism and the label "Nazi" in an attempt to address the claims.[8]

Leadership

Blair Cottrell

Blair Cottrell is the Chairman of the United Patriot's Front, having replaced Sherman Burgess in October 2015.[9] Cottrell has been criticised by the media due to his criminal convictions (which include arson, stalking, making threats to kill and breaching intervention orders[10][11]), and for several of his public statements, including a desire to see a portrait of Adolf Hitler hung in Australian classrooms and for copies of Mein Kampf to be "issued annually" to students.[12] Cottrell has denied supporting Nazism.[13]

In February 2016, Cottrell was mocked after being photographed purchasing a meal from a halal-certified fast-food restaurant, despite his vocal opposition to halal certification and support for boycotts of certified businesses and products.[14][15]

History

2015

In May, UPF led a demonstration in Richmond, Victoria purporting to be against left-wing violence and Councillor Stephen Jolly, of the Socialist Party.[16] The group has been accused of being extremist, racist, and having Neo-Nazi supporters.[17]

In June, the group protested Zaky Mallah's appearance on Q&A, a television programme, by roasting a pig outside the Melbourne office of the ABC in an apparent attempt to upset Muslims.[18][19] On July 23, Victoria Police commissioner Graham Ashton confirmed a firearm was seized in Sydney from a man who was travelling to the rally on July 18.[20]

In August, Fairfax Media reported that one of the group's leaders, Neil Erikson, was under investigation for alleged conversations with an unknown person threatening councillor Stephen Jolly.[21]

In September, the group announced that they would contest the Senate at the upcoming 2016 Federal election.[22][23] The group also distributed pamphlets to municipal, state, and federal government figures that attacked the Bendigo mayor. The pamphlet was interpreted as threat by one official.[24]

In October, the group beheaded a dummy outside the Bendigo City Council chambers to protest the 2015 Parramatta shooting and approval to construct a mosque in Bendigo.[25] A leader of the local anti-mosque group disassociated from the UPF.[26] They later held a demonstration in Rosalind park which attracted around 1,000 supporters in conjunction with the World Wide rally for Humanity, which was a global anti-Islam rally. A Victorian police officer said that most protesters who came to protest in Bendigo travelled from other Australian states.[26]

On the eve of the proposed 10 October rally in Bendigo, the group was criticised by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, who said they "wouldn't be able to spell Bendigo".[27]

In November the group stated their intention to start a political party called Fortitude.[28]

An administrator of the group's Facebook page was featured in a video with Australia First Party chairman Jim Saleam.[29] Blair Cottrell, an organiser, told Neil Mitchell his organisation would "only be violent if they needed to defend themselves".[30]

2016

In April 2016, United Patriots Front was lambasted in the Australian media following the unfurling of a banner with the words "Stop the Mosques" at an Australian Football League match between Collingwood Football Club and Richmond Football Club at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 1 April.[31] The media and officials of the sport condemned the UPF supporters, for action described as being "offensive",[32] "disgusting"[33] and "racist" for their involvement with the banner.[34] On 10 April, the banner was displayed at another Australian Football League game in Perth. The UPF members were removed from the grounds and the banner confiscated.[35]

References

  1. ↑ "Fears rallies could lead to clashes". News.com.au. 31 May 2015. Retrieved 2015-06-15.
  2. ↑ "United Patriots Front". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
  3. ↑ "Anti-Islam protesters and anti-racism activists clash in Melbourne". The Australian. 31 May 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  4. ↑ Hall, Bianca (17 October 2015). "Street fights and 'internet vigilantes': Inside Australia's anti-Islam movement". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  5. ↑ McPherson, Tahlia (20 September 2015). "Albury mosque the next stop for protestors". The Border Mail. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  6. ↑ http://www.mintpressnews.com/anti-islam-pro-nazi-group-to-hold-australias-largest-ever-patriot-rally/207511/
  7. ↑ https://redflag.org.au/node/5110
  8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYmwcbBNsG8
  9. ↑ "Anti-Islam group leader Sherman Burgess the Great Aussie Patriot quits United Patriots Front after members tease him in Great Aussie Potator Facebook video. - Yahoo7". Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  10. ↑ Blair Cottrell Leader of the United Patriots Front. Vimeo. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  11. ↑ Blair Cottrell - Speaking from Port Phillip Prison (as an inmate). 22 February 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016 – via YouTube.
  12. ↑ "Anti-Islam leader Blair Cottrell wants photo of HITLER in Australian classrooms". Mail Online. 17 October 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  13. ↑ "Blair Cottrell, rising anti-Islam movement leader, wanted Hitler in the classroom, Michael Bachelard, Luke McMahon, Sydney Morning Herald, 17 October 2015.
  14. ↑ Chad Freeman (4 February 2016). "Anti-Halal Campaigner Blair Cottrell Spotted At Kebab Shop". Complex AU. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  15. ↑ "Melbourne anti-Islam protester defends fellow activists eating halal kebabs". Mail Online. 5 February 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  16. ↑ "What happens when you interview someone who thinks you're 'filth'?". 3AW Radio, Melbourne. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 2015-06-15.
  17. ↑ "Clash in Bridge Rd Richmond between United Patriots Front and Campaign against Racism and Fascism 'an early wake-up signal'". PerthNow. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 2015-06-15.
  18. ↑ "Anti-Islam group protests outside ABC building over Zaky Mallah's Q&A appearance". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  19. ↑ "Far-right anti-Islam group to rally at Victorian Parliament House". The Age.
  20. ↑ "Gun seized from Reclaim Australia-bound protester prompts safety concerns amongst police". ABC News.
  21. ↑ "Police investigate kill threats against Councillor Stephen Jolly". Fairfax Media.
  22. ↑ "The Great Aussie Patriot | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
  23. ↑ Hall, Bianca (2015-09-11). "Far-right group UPF plans to run for Senate and campaign on right to 'bare arms'". The Age. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
  24. ↑ "Mosque foes take aim at Bendigo council".
  25. ↑ Worrall, Allison. "Anti-Islam group beheads dummy in protest of Bendigo mosque". The Age. Retrieved 2015-10-04.
  26. 1 2 "Bendigo's anti-mosque protest: United Patriots Front nationalist group behind demonstration". ABC News.
  27. ↑ Hall, Bianca. "Anti-mosque protesters 'wouldn't be able to spell Bendigo': Premier Daniel Andrews". The Age. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
  28. ↑ Young, J; Cavanagh, R. "United Patriots Front to start political party called Fortitude". Herald Sun. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  29. ↑ "Far-right anti-Islam group to rally at Victorian Parliament House". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  30. ↑ "Anti-Islam rally organiser cannot guarantee protest will be violence-free". 3AW.
  31. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/apr/02/afl-and-collingwood-condemn-display-of-anti-muslim-banner-during-game
  32. ↑ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-01/afl-condemns-offensive-banner-unfurled-at-collingwood-richmond-/7294078
  33. ↑ http://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/2016/04/01/anti-islamic-afl-banner-overshadows-pies-win/
  34. ↑ http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/racism-controversy-at-mcg/news-story/7de4ef07ce0558c27260f6322b5bb43e
  35. ↑ "United Patriots Front evicted from West Coast vs Fremantle game for anti-mosque banner". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2016-04-09. Retrieved 2016-04-09.

External links

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