Neo-Nazi Joel Davis charged with inciting hatred over ‘Abolish the Jewish lobby’ rally at NSW parliament

Prominent neo-Nazi Joel Davis has been charged with alleged hate speech after a protest by the National Socialist Network outside New South Wales parliament. About 60 members of the now-disbanded group stood in formation on Macquarie Street on 8 November last year, allegedly holding a large banner that read: “Abolish the Jewish lobby.” In a statement on Wednesday night, NSW police said that after an investigation into the protest and two speeches allegedly made by participants, a 32-year-old man had been arrested at South Penrith house earlier that day. Davis was taken to Penrith police station where he was charged with publicly inciting hatred on the grounds of race and causing fear. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre local court on 3 June. “An investigation into this matter was undertaken by the security investigation unit, counter terrorist and special tactics command, who sought legal advice in relation to the public assembly and content of the speeches,” police said. NSW police were criticised at the time of the rally for not opposing a “form 1” application by the organisers, after receiving legal advice that the banner did not meet the threshold for hate speech. The premier, Chris Minns, and the police commissioner, Mal Lanyon, said they were unaware of the event until after it happened. …