The ADL was founded in 2009 a registered not-for-profit organisation. They were founded as an offshoot of the English Defence League.[1] It was led by Ralph Cerminera until he stepped down from the position in 2014 after being found guilty of assault.[2] In March 2019, Cerminera was sentenced to 9 months in prison after assaulting his neighbour.[3] He was replaced as the group's leader by Chris Rothwell.[4]
Activities
Stalking, verbal abuse and harassment
In 2014, the group came to national attention after it was revealed that ADL members and followers had been stalking and photographing Muslim women on public transport, verbally abusing Muslims, displaying anti-Islamic posters outside mosques, and threatening to blow up an Islamic school.[5]
Later in 2014, in what police believe was retaliation for the bomb threat, the home of Nathan Abela, former President of the ADL, was fired upon.[5] Following pressure by people associated with the #illridewithyou campaign, Facebook shut down pages of ADL.[6]
On 22 December 2014, two members of the ADL were involved in a brawl outside Sydney's Lakemba mosque, arrested, and charged with affray and behaving in an offensive manner. They were subsequently convicted and jailed for five weeks.[7][8]
