Milo Yiannopoulos has a history of outrageous behavior in promoting his beliefs in white supremacism. His anti-Muslim biases have been made clear many times over the years. And now they have gotten him banned from ever entering the country of Australia.
After yesterday’s New Zealand mosque murders, ABC Australia reported that Yiannopoulos has been prohibited from entering the country after making inflammatory comments on social media.
Australian Immigration Minister David Coleman issued a public statement announcing that Yiannopoulos’s comments regarding the massacre are “appalling and foment hatred and division.â€
“The terrorist attack in Christchurch was carried out on Muslims peacefully practicing their religion,†Coleman said, according to the outlet. “Australia stands with New Zealand and with Muslim communities the world over in condemning this inhuman act.â€
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The ban on the right-wing provocateur comes after an admitted white supremacist killed 49 Muslims while they were praying in their mosques  in Christchurch, New Zealand yesterday. Over 40 additional people were injured in the attacks.
A short time after reports of the murders appeared on the internet, Yiannopoulos went on Facebook and proclaimed that Islam is a  “barbaric, alien” religious culture.
Yiannopoulos later complained about Australia’s actions, writing:
“I’m banned from Australia, again, after a statement in which I said I abhor political violence.”
Yiannopoulos, is a former editor of the right-wing anti-Muslim website Breitbart, which was formerly run by Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon.
After the New Zealand shooting, U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted a link to the Breitbart website. The suspect in the shooting also said he had been inspired by Trump’s racist anti-Muslim rhetoric.
The racist commentator had planned a speaking tour of the country, ABC Australia noted. His previous stops in December 2017 cost the Victoria Police $50,000 to cover security at a Melbourne event during which 500-left-wing protesters clashed with 50 right-wing activists.
Yiannopoulos had planned to “come roaring back in 2019,†his publicity outlet noted.
The controversial figure resigned from Breitbart in 2017 following uproar over comments he made in which he appeared to endorse having sex with young boys.
PayPal suspended Yiannopoulos last year after he sent $14.88 to a Jewish journalist. The number has been used by white supremacists because “14” represents the mantra of securing a future for white children and “88” represents “Heil Hitler.”
“I am one of the most censored and most lied-about people in the world,” Yiannopoulos has said.
Australian Labor MP Tony Burke praised the decision to ban Yiannopoulos on Twitter.
“Milo banned. Good. His overnight comments weren’t that different from how he has always behaved,†the politician wrote. “There was already enough evidence to ban him which is why the department had already recommended he be banned. The Australian tours for the world’s hate speakers must stop.â€
I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.
