According to activists, there has been a rise in the number of right wing and white supremacist groups in both the U.S and in Canada.
This has been facilitated by the internet which has been used to spread ideology and facilitate contact.
Evan Balgord is the and executive director of the Canadian Anti-hate Network.
ListenThe network involves some 15 academics, legal experts and journalists.
Evan Balgord, executive director of the newly created Anti-Hate Network. Photo: Twitter
Balgord says it is modelled on the U.S. “Southern Poverty Law Centre” which identifies sites and incidents of racism and hate, and is providing support for the Canadian operation.
The new organisation says it too will research, monitor and expose what it says are more than 100 hate groups operating in Canada.
A member of Soldiers of Odin, an anti-immigrant group, clashes with anti-racism protesters with faces hidden in downtown Toronto. Photo: YouTube
Balgord claims for example the anti-m
A group called Sons of Odin on park clean-up in Hamilton in 2017. Often labelled as right-wing, they claim they are not anti-muslim, only anti-sharia law and that they are not association with the “Soldiers of Odin”. Photo: Samantha Craggs-CBC
uslim movement is on the rise in which pro Israel, and anti-semitic neo-nazis have joined forces to promote anti-muslim sentiments and by exposing the neo nazi influence they can create in-fighting in such a movement thereby weakening its numbers, influence and memberships.
Police separate a handful of members of the so called “pro-western” group called Proud Boys as they are confronted by an equally small group of balaclava wearing Maoists at the University of Toronto, July 2017: Image Youtube-Genuwitty
However, extreme left groups like Antifa which have been shown to be prone to violence, will not be targetted by the Anti-Hate Network. Balgord says such violence does not meet the definition of a hate group targeting a specific race, religion, or sexual orientation.
Members of La Meute, (“the pack” as in wolf pack) one of Quebec’s largest far-right groups, holding a sign that claims to defend gender equality from radical Islam during a November 2017 demonstration in Quebec City. In August another march by the right-wing group was marred by anti-racists, When La Meute refused to march at that time due to potential conflict, the mask-wearing antifa members resorted to violence and vandalism of city property. Police later contained the counter-demonstration and arrested four antifa members as La Meute held their march without further incident. Photo: Maxime Corneau/Radio-Canada
Balgord also claims the so-called “alt-right” movement was responsible for 16 murders in the past couple or years, one case by Alexandre Bissonette who shot and killed six worshippers at a Quebec City Mosque, and alleged killer Alek Minassian who used a truck to kill ten in Toronto.
Alexandre Bissonette- who likely self radicalized against muslims through visiting online hate sites, under arrest admitted to charges of murder. In court he later expressed profound regret for the killings. Photo Radio-Canada
While both may have been influenced by online hatred, neither was associated with any particular organisation. Bissonette has since admitted his guilt and stated he now bitterly regrets his actions and the pain and suffering he has caused.
Those who knew Minassian for years have claimed he was always a bit “odd”. He seems to have associated with a disparate group of misfits called “involuntary celibates” blaming women for not liking them.
Balgord says the existence of online hate sites is enough to inspire such acts without the individuals being a part of a movement.
As for the concept of alt-right Balgord says that term is interchangeable with the term neo nazi. He claims the alt-right hates jews, hate women, hate all kinds of people and to achieve their ideal of a white ethno-state, they espouse mass executions and deportations.
Additional information – sources
- Anti-Hate Network-
- CBC: J Montpetit: May 5/18: Montreal neo-nazi
- CBC: S Craggs: Mar 21/18: Hamilton: ban on hate groups in parks
- CBC: J Page: Nov 10/17: Quebec City anti-racist damage, arrests
- RCI: Aug 30/17: comedy event, misinterpreted by anti-hate groups, cancelled, club damaged
- RCI: Sep 28/17: Peterborough: right wing rally against immigration policy: backlash
- RCI: Oct 2.17: Peterborough: Anti-hate group-assault charge
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