Source : Perth Now news
A Canberra cafe has been declared a crime scene after its owner allegedly refused to remove “anti-fascist” posters depicting Donald Trump and Elon Musk in Nazi uniforms.
ACT Police were called to the Dissent Cafe and Bar in the Canberra CBD on Wednesday after a complaint of “possible hate imagery” displayed at the licensed premises.
In a statement, police alleged they spoke with the owner seeking to have the posters, which depicted the Tesla owner, US President, Vice President JD Vance, Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin adorned in Nazi-style uniforms and had reportedly had been on display for several weeks, removed from the exterior windows.
When the owner refused, the cafe was declared a crime scene and temporarily shuttered, police said.
Five posters were subsequently seized, with police seeking legal advice to determine whether they contravene sweeping new commonwealth hate speech laws passed in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack in Sydney.
The arrival of police and subsequent closure was largely captured on camera and shared to the cafe’s Facebook account.
“ACT Police have closed us down because out artwork has offended someone,” the account stated.
It continued in a subsequent post: “The full weight of the law apparently applies to artistic parody.
“In what is obviously harassment the ACT Police have declared a crime scene at Dissent and tonight’s gig is unfortunately cancelled.
“The crime is displaying these posters, clearly and obviously parody art with a distinct anti fascist message.”
The account went on to state that the cafe was closed for 2½ hours but would reopen on Thursday.
Commenters were quick to criticise police action, with one person stating “Welcome to the dystopian future”.
The posters are understood to be by British artist Bam from UK-based grow Up Art.
In an Instagram post, the group’s account said of an image of Mr Netanyahu: “I sure hope ppl (people) don’t put up this one in-particular.
“ACT Policing would not be a fan.”
The cafe has been contacted for comment.
