BY MERYAN TOZER
MELBOURNE "The terrible history of the last century tells us that fascist movements have to be fought when they emerge if they are allowed to grow it is too late", anti-Blackshirt campaigner Riki Lane told 200 people at a September 12 meeting in Brunswick Town Hall. Meeting attendees resolved to take swift action, after hearing from a range of speakers about the violent tactics and ultra-conservative ideas of the fascist-style "men's rights" group, the Blackshirts.
The Blackshirts are a Brunswick-based men's group united in their concern to restore and promote the "traditional family". Particularly outspoken about the "threats" to conventional father-headed households posed by homosexuality, divorce and adultery, the Blackshirts harass single and lesbian mothers, their children and new partners. Distributing abusive "open letters"; staging protests and howling through megaphones outside their targets' homes; stalking women; making phantom phone calls; and disrupting Family Court proceedings are among the tactics employed by the group.
The Blackshirts' ideology mixes the worst of the Coalition government's 1950s-style "family values" with the dangerous reactionary moralism of vigilante fascists on a "divine mission". "Blackshirts leader, John Abbott, could accurately be described as a Christian fundamentalist", Lane, who is a member of the Socialist Alliance, told the meeting. "This is a reactionary ideology that seeks to chain women to the home and subjects everyone to an archaic moral code."
The Blackshirts' name, black paramilitary uniform, insignia and beliefs are purposely reminiscent of Mussolini's Italian fascists. Abbott has publicly allied himself with fascism, stating in a television interview: "I don't have any problems with fascism... or with the terminology."
The community meeting was organised by a new local campaign collective called DiSC Diversity in Safe Communities. DiSC was established after Abbott threatened to "pay a visit" to the home of two Brunswick women, Paula Pope and Caz Pellow-Jones, who openly challenged his homophobic and misogynist views.
Since the threats, Pope and Pellow-Jones have made contact with families in a similar predicament. "They talk of how they have no idea any more of how to live an ordinary peaceful life", Pope told the meeting. "Life is running, life is hiding, life is fighting as best you can and constantly looking for a place to run too."
Karen Milgrom from the Coburg-Brunswick Community Legal Centre reminded people at the meeting that the terror experienced by Blackshirts targets is a reality for many survivors of domestic violence. She said that in Victoria last year police were called out to 22,000 domestic violence cases and, according to Police Commissioner Christine Nixon, only 20% of cases get reported.
Jade Blakkarly, a lesbian mother, also related the Blackshirts' attacks to the prevalence of homophobia in all institutions of our society.
Margot Northey, from the Council of Single Mothers and their Children, contextualised the rise of "men's rights" organisations within the regressive, anti-woman climate created by the current federal government. She argued that current moves to weaken no-fault divorce laws, the directing of funds towards the goal of "saving marriages" and the stripping of funds from women's domestic violence help services are putting pressure on women to stay in dysfunctional marriages.
DiSC is critical not only of the Blackshirts, but also of the Coalition government's support for Blackshirt-style values. It will incorporate into the campaign opposition to domestic violence, homophobia, problems in Family Law and pressures on working-class families.
DiSC has also set up a non-violent Rapid Response Network, so local residents can quickly respond to Blackshirts' threats or actions.
Former federal MP Phil Cleary said that he was struck by the stark difference between an almost non-existent police response to the Blackshirts and the recent excessive shows of force by police to protect the profits of multinational companies.
Debbie Brennan from Radical Women concluded the speaking list with a call for solidarity. "Fascism in the 1920/30s grew out of scarcity. And scarcity today makes fascist ideas a magnet to working people doing it hard and who see no alternative answers", she said. "Among the Blackshirts are working-class men whose pitiful pay cheques are garnished by the state for child support. But their sexism gets in the way of being able to identify the system, not women, as their problem."
Spirited discussion from the floor of the meeting conveyed a sense of commitment to organised community action against the Blackshirts. A number of motions were passed condemning the Blackshirts, and endorsing a community campaign to include rallies and vigils, support for victims, legal strategies, research and community self-defence.
A motion suggesting that DiSC "negotiate" with the Blackshirts was widely opposed. Speaking against the motion, one woman said: "There is nothing to negotiate over. I don't want a half-racist society and I don't want my kids growing up in a society that is a 'little bit' homophobic."
To find out more about the campaign, phone Riki on 0400 877 819 or Paula on 9387 2212 or email <rebelflags@hotmail.com>. From Green Left Weekly, September 25, 2002.
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