As anti-lockdown extremism fades, its antisemitic face becomes clearer

A The Jewish Independent investigation finds that despite the easing of restrictions, Australian hate groups continue to flourish, revealing that their bigotry is first and foremost antisemitic

OVER THE PAST two years, Australia has experienced the spread of two plagues: the coronavirus and antisemitism. Both have proven contagious, and both threaten some in our community significantly more than others.

However, unlike the coronavirus, antisemitism is a plague easily ignored. The public is not aware of how many are infected each day and cannot trace its transmission or name its exposure sites with any precision. It spreads in a manner barely perceptible to those that it cannot harm, condensed in closed subcultures and concealed in coded epithets.

With the transition to normality well underway, Australians are eager to move on from pandemic politics. As their relevance wanes, anti-lockdown and anti-vaccine extremists are fading from public discussion. With borders opening and lockdowns lifting, the social unrest caused by Covid is widely hoped to fade, along with the disease itself.

Since August, The Jewish Independent has closely monitored antisemitic extremism in the anti-lockdown movement. Despite its reduced role in the public conversation, our investigations have revealed that the easing of restrictions has failed to temper the growth of several major hate groups.

On the contrary. As anti-vaccination extremism has receded, it has become apparent that the bigotry of these groups is first and foremost antisemitic. This ugly reality has been diluted in the media narrative around them as simply "far-right", "racist" and "extremist".

For example, in the 30 days preceding November 3, the anti-lockdown and antisemitic group Wake Up Australia enjoyed an influx of 2,176 new subscribers on the Telegram platform.  The like-minded Crowhouse Discussion group gained 3,871 and Australia Rising group received 4,169 during that timeframe.