Home Australia Young man is convicted and fined for his ‘unacceptable’ act at a transgender march in Australia

Young man is convicted and fined for his ‘unacceptable’ act at a transgender march in Australia

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Felix Kiera admitted to giving a Nazi salute and said he was "ignorant" in a letter of repentance.

A young man who performed a Nazi salute to disrupt a march in support of transgender people has been convicted but not jailed, despite a magistrate describing his behavior as unacceptable.

Felix John Jerzy Kiera made the gesture after standing in front of the Trans Day of Resistance rally, an event held to protest the marginalization of trans and non-binary people on November 23.

The 21-year-old was immediately arrested by police officers attending the march, which was held in Newtown, in Sydney’s inner west.

On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty at Newtown Local Court to one count of knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol in public without reasonable excuse.

Kiera was supported by her father in the courtroom and handed in a letter of regret.

“I was ignorant, your honor,” he told Magistrate Alexander Mijovich.

His Legal Aid lawyer asked that he not be convicted, saying the gesture was brief and did not prompt anyone else to join.

However, the magistrate chose to convict the 21-year-old and impose a fine of $1,000.

“The message needs to be conveyed to the community that this is simply unacceptable in any case,” Mr Mijovich said.

Felix Kiera admitted to giving a Nazi salute and claimed to be “ignorant” in a letter of repentance.

Félix Kiera did not say anything to journalists when leaving the court

Félix Kiera did not say anything to journalists when leaving the court

While a maximum prison sentence of 12 months was available for the offence, the magistrate opted for a less severe punishment after taking into account Kiera’s youth and lack of criminal record.

The guilty plea was made after prosecutors dropped a second charge of making a gesture in a public place constituting a Nazi salute.

Kiera did not say anything to reporters as she left the court.

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