|
X Blackshirts set up secret
cells in NSW An extremist divorced fathers' group, whose members dress in
neo-nazi black uniforms and publicly abuse their former wives, is setting up
cells in NSW. The leader of the self-styled Blackshirts, John Abbott, said
he would make a secret trip to Sydney and NSW towns in the next few months to
set up branches of his militant organisation. Mr Abbott said he had contact with "hundreds" of
angry fathers across NSW who were prepared to adopt the vigilante tactics of
his Melbourne-based group. Mr Abbott was branded a "fascist" by Melbourne
magistrate Rod Crisp last week as he banned him for five years from
approaching two women his group had been haranguing. The group has terrified women by abusing and harassing them
during divorce proceedings. Up to a dozen men at a time have worn black masks and
paramilitary black uniforms with swastika-style badges while they stand
outside homes abusing people as adulterers and family destroyers. "I am not perturbed being called a fascist," Mr
Abbott said. "I am here to protect the family, the sanctity of
marriage and the children. Whatever it takes, even sacrifice from us, is
acceptable to reinstate family values." Mr Abbott said members of his group wore the black uniform to
make an impact. They wore masks as people in Family Court cases could not be
identified. He said: "We do not intend to invoke fear. If they have
fear it is only because they themselves are guilty." Mr Abbott said his group did not break the law, it notified
police of its protests and only meant to protect families. It has among its members a man accused of domestic violence
and another ruled by the Family Court to have sexually abused his son. Mr Abbott sees himself on a crusade, comparing his 300
Blackshirts to the 300 Spartans who fought the might of the Persian empire at
the Battle of Thermopylae in 480BC. "They fought against incredible odds and as they did not
let the enemy through to get to their families. Nor will we," Mr Abbott
said. NSW lone-father support groups condemn the Blackshirts but
warned there were men in NSW who were angry and frustrated enough at the
Family Court system to join the extremists. Tony Miller, founder of the support group Dads in Distress,
said some men were so desperate they would turn to the Blackshirts. Mr Miller said: "The system is so bad and anti-father
that it is driving some men to extremes. We have five suicides among divorced
and separated men every day in Australia. Of course some are so fed up they
will join a mob like that. But vigilante action will hurt us and put us back
20 years." State Attorney-General Bob Debus warned that the Blackshirts
faced jail if they protested in the same way in NSW. The battle of the exes
This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/08/17/1029114031781.html
x |
|
x |
|
x |