![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.goldcoast.com.au\/images\/uploadedfiles\/editorial\/pictures\/2010\/04\/16\/skinheads.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhite power activists arrive on Coast
\ngoldcoast.com.au
\nApril 17, 2010<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
ULTRA right-wing activists have arrived on the Gold Coast for a controversial white supremacist music festival which will be closely monitored by police today.<\/p>\n
Last night a suburban steakhouse was the unlikely setting for a gathering of activists ahead of the Hammered festival.<\/p>\n
At least 30 heavily tattooed, shaven-headed men, wearing T-shirts bearing the slogan ‘Blood and Honour’ dined in a secluded corner of the Ashmore Steak and Seafood restaurant.<\/p>\n
A handful of women, clad in black dresses, joined the group, which ranged in age from teens to mid-40s.<\/p>\n
The group has travelled from New Zealand, NSW and Victoria to attend today’s event, which is organised by the Southern Cross Hammer Skinheads.<\/p>\n
While cagey about what they were doing on the weekend, several group members confirmed they were on the Coast for a ‘few days’.<\/p>\n
One woman said they would check out Dreamworld on Monday.<\/p>\n
Diners gawked as the group, marked out by their shaved heads, swastikas and tattoos, arrived at [the] restaurant in separate vehicles about 7.15pm.<\/p>\n
“One had a shirt with a swastika on it,” said one restaurant patron. “They were tattooed — heavily tattooed. Most of them had shaved heads and some had tattoos on their heads.<\/p>\n
“They were a mix of men and women.<\/p>\n
“They certainly looked out of place in a suburban steakhouse.”<\/p>\n
The maitre-d’ at the restaurant selectively seated patrons away from the group, who were well mannered and kept to themselves throughout the dinner.<\/p>\n
Today’s controversial concert was supposed to be held at a secret location on the Gold Coast but senior police confirmed they knew the festival’s location and would conduct an operation to monitor proceedings.<\/p>\n
Southern Cross Hammer Skinheads is the local arm of an international white pride network.<\/p>\n
It is co-sponsored by race-hate group Blood and Honour, which was banned by German authorities in 2000 for spreading Nazi ideology.<\/p>\n
The music festival — billed as a week of ‘sun, surf and radicalist music’ — is expected to attract activists from across Australia and overseas.<\/p>\n
Both police and the Gold Coast council have said they are unable to stop the festival from going ahead on private property.<\/p>\n
A counter rally has been organised for today.<\/p>\n
Sand, Sea and Diversity Coalition said the ‘Gold Coast Say No! To Racism’ rally would take place at The Spit from 10am.<\/p>\n
A rally spokeswoman said they wanted to show that Queenslanders valued cultural diversity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
White power activists arrive on Coast goldcoast.com.au April 17, 2010 ULTRA right-wing activists have arrived on the Gold Coast for a controversial white supremacist music festival which will be closely monitored by police today. Last night a suburban steakhouse was … Continue reading