Neo Nazi given a month’s jail: First conviction under Nazi salute ban
'This isn't just a sentence—it's a national roar that symbols of Nazism have no place on our soil'
White supremacist Jacob Hersant has been sentenced to one month in prison for performing a Nazi salute in public.
It’s an historic ruling that marks the first conviction under Victoria’s new Nazi gesture ban.
The 25-year-old member of the National Socialist Network was found guilty and sentenced at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday for the gesture he performed outside the County Court on October 27 last year, just days after the legislation took effect.
During sentencing, Magistrate Brett Sonnet declared that “the performance of the Nazi gesture is a virulent display of hate speech,” saying Hersant had “taken advantage of the media to disseminate extreme political views.”
Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC), who led a decade-long campaign to outlaw Nazi symbols and gestures, hailed the verdict as a watershed moment.
“Justice has spoken—loudly and fiercely. If you salute Hitler, you’ll end up saluting the prison walls and today Jacob Hersant felt the iron fist of justice—and the Nazi salute has taken its last gasp,” Dr Abramovich said.
“This isn’t just a sentence—it’s a national roar that symbols of Nazism have no place on our soil,” he added, though noting that “one month is a start, but for a crime that carries a maximum of twelve months, we need sentences that truly reflect the gravity of these vile actions.”
The conviction comes amid increased scrutiny of neo-Nazi activities in Victoria.
Police announced on Thursday a targeted crackdown on the National Socialist Network, with four members facing charges for alleged harassment and threats against police officers and civilians.
Hersant has been granted bail pending an appeal of both the conviction and sentence. He had previously served three days in custody for his involvement in an attack on hikers in Victoria’s Cathedral Ranges.
“This ruling isn’t simply about punishing one man—it’s about protecting our children, our future, and the very soul of Australia,” Dr Abramovich stated.
“Let this be a new dawn for a nation that stands unbreakable against symbols of tyranny. Every day Hersant spends in jail is a triumph for our communities and for the memory of those who perished at the hands of this hateful ideology,” he said.
Meanwhile, The Jewish community has welcomed the Victorian Government’s announcement it will strengthen protections against hate speech and hate conduct.
Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) CEO Naomi Levin said, “While these reforms were first proposed three years ago, the need could not be more urgent in Victoria today. Over the past year, there have been hundreds of reports vilification of Jewish people at the MCG, in Melbourne’s CBD, at universities and in local workplaces, which while heinous, largely do not meet the current threshold for prosecution.
Levin describes the current Racial and Religious Tolerance Act as weak, saying it has shown itself to be inadequate to protect minority communities, including Jewish Victorians.
“You can count on one hand the number of successful prosecutions under the current laws, and of those prosecuted, the penalties have not acted as a deterrent.The JCCV will continue to work closely with the Victorian Government to ensure our Jewish community is able to live safely and free of vilification in Victoria” Levin stated.
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