United Patriots Front

United Patriots Front
Active 2015–present
Ideology ultranationalism
neo Nazism[1]
anti-Islam
anti-multiculturalism
anti-immigration
Leaders Blair Cottrell (chairperson)
Dennis Huts (prime representative - Perth)
Thomas Sewell (secretary and (proposed) Senate candidate)
Kris Richardson (prime organiser and head of operations)
Christopher Shortis (Melbourne lieutenant and (proposed) Senate candidate)
Scott Moerland (Brisbane lieutenant)
Elijah Jacobson (Kevin Coombes) (Perth lieutenant)
Nic Genovese (media & correspondence)[2]
Shermon Burgess (former leader 2015[3])

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.[4][5] It is a splinter group from the anti-Islamic Reclaim Australia group, formed after a dispute between Shermon Burgess and Reclaim Australia organisers.[6][7] The group has been described as a hate group.[8]

2015

In May, UPF led a demonstration in Richmond, Victoria, claimed to be a rally against left-wing violence and Councillor Stephen Jolly, of the Socialist Party.[9] They group have been accused of being extremist, racist, and having Neo-Nazi supporters.[10]

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.[11][12] 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.[13]

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.[14]

In September, the group announced that they would contest the Senate at the upcoming 2016 Federal election.[15][16] 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.[17]

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.[18] A leader of the local anti-mosque group disassociated from the UPF.[19] 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.[19]

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".[20]

In November the group stated their intention to start a political party called Fortitude.[21]

An administrator of the group's Facebook page was featured in a video with Australia First Party chairman Jim Saleam.[22] Blair Cottrell, an organiser, told Neil Mitchell his organisation would "only be violent if they needed to defend themselves".[23]

2016

In the first days of April 2016, United Patriots Front was lambasted in the Australian media following the unfurling of a banner with the words "Stop the Mosques" during half-time at the 1 April match between Collingwood Football Club and Richmond Football Club at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.[24] The group and supporters were condemned by both the press and officials of the sport, with the action variously described as "offensive",[25] "disgusting"[26] and "racist".[27] 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.[28]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.smh.com.au/national/blair-cottrell-leader-of-aussie-patriots-upf-wanted-hitler-in-the-classroom-20151016-gkbbvz.html
  2. ↑ http://www.fortitude-australia.com/our-members/
  3. ↑ https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/29832004/anti-islam-group-leader-sherman-burgess-the-great-aussie-patriot-quits-united-patriots-front-after-members-tease-him-in-great-aussie-potator-facebook-video/
  4. ↑ "Fears rallies could lead to clashes". News.com.au. May 31, 2015. Retrieved 2015-06-15.
  5. ↑ "United Patriots Front". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
  6. ↑ "Anti-Islam protesters and anti-racism activists clash in Melbourne". The Australian. 31 May 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  7. ↑ Hall, Bianca (17 October 2015). "Street fights and 'internet vigilantes': Inside Australia's anti-Islam movement". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  8. ↑ McPherson, Tahlia (20 September 2015). "Albury mosque the next stop for protestors". The Border Mail. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  9. ↑ "What happens when you interview someone who thinks you're 'filth'?". 3AW Radio, Melbourne. June 1, 2015. Retrieved 2015-06-15.
  10. ↑ "Clash in Bridge Rd Richmond between United Patriots Front and Campaign against Racism and Fascism ‘an early wake-up signal’". PerthNow. June 1, 2015. Retrieved 2015-06-15.
  11. ↑ "Anti-Islam group protests outside ABC building over Zaky Mallah's Q&A appearance". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  12. ↑ "Far-right anti-Islam group to rally at Victorian Parliament House". The Age.
  13. ↑ "Gun seized from Reclaim Australia-bound protester prompts safety concerns amongst police". ABC News.
  14. ↑ "Police investigate kill threats against Councillor Stephen Jolly". Fairfax Media.
  15. ↑ "The Great Aussie Patriot | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
  16. ↑ 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.
  17. ↑ "Mosque foes take aim at Bendigo council".
  18. ↑ Worrall, Allison. "Anti-Islam group beheads dummy in protest of Bendigo mosque". The Age. Retrieved 2015-10-04.
  19. 1 2 "Bendigo's anti-mosque protest: United Patriots Front nationalist group behind demonstration". ABC News.
  20. ↑ Hall, Bianca. "Anti-mosque protesters 'wouldn't be able to spell Bendigo': Premier Daniel Andrews". The Age. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
  21. ↑ Young, J; Cavanagh, R. "United Patriots Front to start political party called Fortitude". Herald Sun. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  22. ↑ "Far-right anti-Islam group to rally at Victorian Parliament House". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  23. ↑ "Anti-Islam rally organiser cannot guarantee protest will be violence-free". 3AW.
  24. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/apr/02/afl-and-collingwood-condemn-display-of-anti-muslim-banner-during-game
  25. ↑ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-01/afl-condemns-offensive-banner-unfurled-at-collingwood-richmond-/7294078
  26. ↑ http://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/2016/04/01/anti-islamic-afl-banner-overshadows-pies-win/
  27. ↑ http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/racism-controversy-at-mcg/news-story/7de4ef07ce0558c27260f6322b5bb43e
  28. ↑ "United Patriots Front evicted from West Coast vs Fremantle game for anti-mosque banner". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2016-04-09. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
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