'They definitely won't be coming in here again': Disturbing details from secret birthday bash sparks outrage online
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Disclaimer: This article contains sensitive topics related to beliefs and Nazi symbolism. Reader discretion is advised.
The world has witnessed the horrors of war and the devastating impact of hate-fueled ideologies.
Yet, it is unsettling to know that the shadows of the past still loom over people.
Recent news of a controversial gathering online sent shockwaves online and sparked widespread condemnation and a police investigation.
The event, which took place at the Duke of Edinburgh pub in Oldham, was not just a casual birthday party.
A group of people celebrated what would have been Adolf Hitler's 136th birthday, which showcased extremist views, swastika flags and a birthday cake adorned with the same symbol.
The group, identified as the northwest branch of the British Movement, did not shy away from flaunting their actions.
They boasted on social media about the pub filled with the 'warm laughter of comrades' as they honoured 'Uncle A', in reference to Hitler.
The brazenness of the celebration was a reminder of the challenges people continue to face in combating extremism.
The group's actions were described as a 'disgraceful insult' to the memory of those who fought and died resisting Nazism, including 100 men from Oldham.
The pub's incoming landlady, Jean Anderson, and her partner, Terry English, expressed their shock and ignorance of the group's intentions.
'They said they had a cake, but we didn't know what happened because they covered everything up,' Ms Anderson shared in an interview.
'They sat in the corner and didn't cause any problems.
'I have never seen them before, but they definitely won't be coming in here again,' she added.
'They were sneaky. We didn't see anything until we saw the pictures,' Mr English echoed Ms Anderson's statement.
'I just can't understand why they picked this pub.'
See the footage of the secret birthday party here:
Source: Manchester Evening News/YouTube
The British Movement was founded in 1968.
Hope, Not Hate senior researcher David Lawrence described the movement as a 'highly fringe Nazi group that is repulsive even by the standards of the far right'.
Despite their attempts to raise their profile, they remain a small group of extremists with no significant influence.
Craft Union Pubs, which operates the Duke of Edinburgh, also condemned the gathering.
The operator stated that the group concealed their activities and that such behaviour would not be tolerated in their other venues.
They are committed to uniting communities, not dividing them, and are supporting their staff, who are understandably distressed by the incident.
'We are focused on uniting our local communities, not dividing them,' a spokesperson from Craft Union Pubs stated.
'We are supporting our operator in looking after their team, who are understandably incredibly distressed by the incident.'
In Australia, doing the Nazi salute has been illegal since January 2024.
The salute has been banned due to its association with Hitler and the rise of anti-Semitic views.
A nurse based in New South Wales has been suspended due to her alleged use of the salute in one of her videos online.
In other news, Victoria Police previously investigated former ABC host Tom Ballard after allegedly doing a Nazi salute at a comedy club in Melbourne.
This incident should be a reminder that vigilance against hate and extremism is crucial.
It should remind everyone not to forget the lessons of history.
How do you feel about the resurgence of such extremist groups? What steps can local councils take to prevent the spread of their hateful ideologies? We invite everyone to share their thoughts on this matter in the comments section below.
The world has witnessed the horrors of war and the devastating impact of hate-fueled ideologies.
Yet, it is unsettling to know that the shadows of the past still loom over people.
Recent news of a controversial gathering online sent shockwaves online and sparked widespread condemnation and a police investigation.
The event, which took place at the Duke of Edinburgh pub in Oldham, was not just a casual birthday party.
A group of people celebrated what would have been Adolf Hitler's 136th birthday, which showcased extremist views, swastika flags and a birthday cake adorned with the same symbol.
The group, identified as the northwest branch of the British Movement, did not shy away from flaunting their actions.
Duke of Edinburgh is one of the pubs managed by Craft Union Pubs. Image Credit: YouTube/Manchester Evening News
They boasted on social media about the pub filled with the 'warm laughter of comrades' as they honoured 'Uncle A', in reference to Hitler.
The brazenness of the celebration was a reminder of the challenges people continue to face in combating extremism.
The group's actions were described as a 'disgraceful insult' to the memory of those who fought and died resisting Nazism, including 100 men from Oldham.
The pub's incoming landlady, Jean Anderson, and her partner, Terry English, expressed their shock and ignorance of the group's intentions.
'They said they had a cake, but we didn't know what happened because they covered everything up,' Ms Anderson shared in an interview.
'They sat in the corner and didn't cause any problems.
'I have never seen them before, but they definitely won't be coming in here again,' she added.
'They were sneaky. We didn't see anything until we saw the pictures,' Mr English echoed Ms Anderson's statement.
'I just can't understand why they picked this pub.'
See the footage of the secret birthday party here:
Source: Manchester Evening News/YouTube
The British Movement was founded in 1968.
Hope, Not Hate senior researcher David Lawrence described the movement as a 'highly fringe Nazi group that is repulsive even by the standards of the far right'.
Despite their attempts to raise their profile, they remain a small group of extremists with no significant influence.
Craft Union Pubs, which operates the Duke of Edinburgh, also condemned the gathering.
The operator stated that the group concealed their activities and that such behaviour would not be tolerated in their other venues.
They are committed to uniting communities, not dividing them, and are supporting their staff, who are understandably distressed by the incident.
'We are focused on uniting our local communities, not dividing them,' a spokesperson from Craft Union Pubs stated.
'We are supporting our operator in looking after their team, who are understandably incredibly distressed by the incident.'
In Australia, doing the Nazi salute has been illegal since January 2024.
The salute has been banned due to its association with Hitler and the rise of anti-Semitic views.
A nurse based in New South Wales has been suspended due to her alleged use of the salute in one of her videos online.
In other news, Victoria Police previously investigated former ABC host Tom Ballard after allegedly doing a Nazi salute at a comedy club in Melbourne.
This incident should be a reminder that vigilance against hate and extremism is crucial.
It should remind everyone not to forget the lessons of history.
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