Probe into racist posters
Police hunt those responsible and call for help from the public
A GROUP that has been plastering ‘racist’ posters across Townsville has defended its actions as police zero in on those behind the divisive slogans.
Townsville Free Corps was founded last year and has been actively pushing its message to the community.
The group say its goal is ‘ to cultivate the youth so that they are fully equipped to defend and preserve their people, their community and their way of life in the face of adversity”.
Some of their posters say things including “white youths patrol this area for your security” and “stop the replacement and keep Australia, Australian!
Defend your people, the nation they have built and their way of life.”
The group updates members on social app Telegram on where it has put up its signs.
Under one post the caption read “take note of the flashing police lights in the background of the second picture. Crime truly is in everyone’s faces, yet the public are still too afraid to speak their mind about the issue for the fear of being called a ‘racist’”.
The group claim to have put its content in suburbs including Vincent, Gulliver, Annandale, Rosslea, Mundingburra, Pimlico, Aitkenvale, Mysterton and Condon.
Posters have also appeared in Charters Towers.
Signs have also been allegedly placed outside of facilities including NRL Cowboys House, William Ross State High School and Southern Cross Catholic College.
The posters have been plastered on light posts, bus stops, park benches and bins, among other things.
In an interview with the Bulletin, the Townsville Free Corps founder said “countless” posters had gone up around the city. “The idea behind the Free Corps is to organise likeminded young people so that they may act as leaders for the community in the face of adversity,” they said.
The organiser said the community’s reaction to the posters were “mainly hysterical”.
“These kind of ideas are not in the public’s frame of mind, which is a big issue to us,” they said. “They see white people talking about self preservation and the preservation of a nation and a culture they have built and freak out while they celebrate NAIDOC Week with excitement while not being represented. This is wrong.
“It’s perfectly fine to celebrate the culture of the Aboriginals, but all cultures are not being treated and respected equally.”
Townsville police detective inspector Chris Lawson said police were working to track down those responsible for the posters.
“Racism isn’t acceptable and we encourage the community to work with us by supplying information to combat crime,” Det Insp Lawson said.
“Significant penalties apply and the community can rest assured police will fully investigate matters brought to their attention.
“Anyone that may have seen anything suspicious or has any information that may assist investigators are being urged to contact police.”