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The Far Rightwing Movement in Southwest Ontario:

An Exploration of Issues, Themes, and Variations.

Matthew A. Lauder

Published By:
The Guelph and District Multicultural Centre
214 Speedvale Ave. West, Unit 7
Guelph, Ontario Canada N1H 1C4
www.gdmc.org
http://carn.topcities.com

S Guelph And District


mm iturai Centre

Funding Provided By:


Department of Canadian Heritage

l+l Canadian Patrimoine


Heritage canadien
[0 sVj
GUELPH AND DISTRICT MULTICULTURAL CENTRE INC. l&\
GDMC

RE: RELEASE OF REPORT ON HATE GROUPS


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Guelph, 22 March 2002

Guelph and District Multicultural Centre


214 Speedvale Avenue West, Unit 7
Guelph, ON N1H 1C4
Tel. 519.836.2222, Fax, 519.837.2884
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After two years of research, workgroup meetings, and public


education activities and discussions, the Guelph and
D i s tr i c t M u l ti c u l tu r a l C e n tr e h a s r e l e a s e d i ts r e p o r t o n
far rightwing activity in Southwest Ontario.
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The report, Far Rightwing Movement in Southwest Ontario: An


L E x p l o r a t i o n o f I s s u e s , T h e m e s , a n d Va r i a t i o n s , c r i t i c a l l y
examines contemporary manifestations of far rightwing
Jj activity in Southwest Ontario and analyses a range of
issues including youth involvement, recruitment strategies,
group development, historical and social context, cross-
I border activity and networking, and the social and criminal
consequences of involvement in the far rightwing movement.

F The Centre hopes that you will find the report of use,

For further information, please contact:

Matthew A. Lauder
Hi Director, Research and Education
Tel. 519.836.2222
Fax. 519.837.2884

pet

"iiit 7-214 Speedvale Ave. W., Guelph, Ontario N1H 1C4 Tel: (519) 836-2222 Fax: (519) 837-2884
E-mail: mailbox&gclmc.org
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Acknowledgements and Forward


'PPI
On behalf of the Guelph and District Multicultural Centre, I would like to
thank the Department of Canadian Heritage for its sponsorship of the project and
related research, education, and networking activities.
IP!

I would also like to thank Warren Kinsella, Stanley Barrett, and Robert Segal
for sharing their views and providing insight into the topics of organised racism, anti-
,ipi|
Semitism, and research methods.

I also appreciate the formal and informal co-operation by several law


enforcement and intelligence agencies, in particular the Kingston Police Department,
the Toronto Police Service, the Waterloo Regional Police, the Windsor Police Service,
the Hamilton-Wentworth Police Service, the Sarnia Police Service, the Guelph Police
Service, the London Police Service, the Ontario Provincial Police, and the Canadian
Security Intelligence Service. In addition, I appreciate the time and effort offered by
the many volunteers that assisted in the project and the relentless work by friends,
associates, and activists in the Canadian Antiracism Education and Research Society,
the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Anti-Defamation
League, the Community Coalition Against Racism, the Canadian Jewish Congress, the
PP Canadian Race Relations Foundation, the Canadian Muslim Civil Liberties
Association, and B'nai Brith Canada.

Finally, I would like to thank James Horner, editor of Canadian Content,


Richard Warman, and Fran Gagliardi for their input and insight.

■P Although focusing on the far rightwing movement in Southwest Ontario, this


report reflects more than two years of research conducted across Canada and the
United States by Centre staff and an informal network of volunteers, students, area
JiP) specialists, and anti-racist activists. To this end, a range of qualitative and quantitative
research methodologies, (such as participant observation, formal and informal
interviews, surveys and questionnaires, document and discourse analysis, and
observation of public activities) were used to collect information. The purpose of this
report is to provide an accurate, timely, and insightful analysis of the far rightwing
movement in the Southwest Ontario area and to critically examine the nature of
involvement in organised racism (in particular by young people) and the impact of
racism on society as a whole. This report is a collection of articles, some of which
have previously been published in order to gain feedback, examining a range of
interrelated topics. Consequently, previously published articles may have been altered
• IP
or revised to reflect new information.

The views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect those of the Department
of Canadian Heritage.

Matthew A. Lauder BAH, MA


Director, Research and Education
15 March 2002

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1.
False Perceptions of an Inclusive Society: A Century of Racism and Hate in
Canada-p. 1.

Chapter 2.

r
The Social Dynamic of Involvement in Far Right Extremism - p. 9.

Chapter 3.
The Importance of Websites to the Extreme Rightwing - p. 21.

Chapter 4.
From the KKK to the Heritage Front: The History of National Socialism in
P Canada - p. 28.

Chapter 5.
'** From Webmaster to Extremist Leader: Is Marc Lemire the Next Shining-star of the
| Radical Right?-p. 52.

r C h a p t e rThe Neo-Nazi
6 . Skinhead Movement in Southwest Ontario - p. 61.

■j p Chapter 7.
J The New Generation of Organised Racialism in Canada - p. 74.

ir ■ TheC Hidden
h a p t eRacism
r 8of. the Canadian Heritage Alliance - p. 84.

„ Chapters
From White Pride to Straight Pride: Bergmann Redefines Himself - p. 92.

Chapter Notes - p. 99.


^ Table 1. Paul Fromm: Recent Activities in Southwest Ontario.

P Table 2. The Far Rightwing Movement: Area of Operation.


ff
Table 3. Relevant Sections of the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Canada
ff Criminal Code.

Appendix 1. Factors of Involvement and Suggestions.


i
i A p p e n d i x 2 . L i t e r a t u r e R e v i e w.

i p

iipii
r
CHAPTER 1. eliminating hate and encouraging
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respect for diversity, many Canadians
False Perceptions of an Inclusive continue to think along racial lines and
Society: A Century of Racism and manifest hate and discrimination in a
Hate in Canada1 variety of forms.

Canada prides itself on being an Defining Racism and Hate


inclusive and multicultural society,
having some of the most progressive Racism is defined as a doctrine
anti-hate legislation in the world, or ideology that, combined with
including extended sentencing for behaviour, categorises groups as
those convicted of a hate motivated intellectually or morally inferior and
crime and restrictions on the public therefore makes them a target of
incitement of hatred and contempt. In unequal treatment.6 The doctrine of
fact, Canada is the world's first official racism is usually based on perceived
multicultural nation. Augie Fleras and physical or genetic characteristics that
E. D. Nelson note that, "Canada is serve to classify groups as inferior.
iBPj
often portrayed by outsiders as a Therefore, racism is about maintaining
paragon of virtue in harmonious power and control of one's own group
management of race and ethnic over another.

r relations."2 In addition, Hedy Fry, the


Secretary of State for Multiculturalism,
points out that Canada's
multiculturalism policy ensures that it
Hate, however, is slightly
different. While it may be based upon
race, it is generally thought of as a
is an "inclusive and cohesive" society, legal term (i.e. hate crime) that implies
noting that Canada's diversity is a the behaviour of treating an individual
ip source of national pride.3 or group in an unequal manner on the
basis of race, religion, ethnicity,
However, the multiculturalism national origin, sexual orientation or
programmes and revised criminal code any other identifiable category.8
and human rights legislation has not
altered the level of racism in Canada. Racism and Hate in Canada: 1900-
Recent reports indicate that acts of 1950
fUSSlJ

racism and other forms of hate-based


activities continue to increase. For Although Canada is
example, Statistics Canada reports that internationally renown for its racial and
more than 272,000 hate crimes ethnic diversity, overt racism was
occurred in 19994 and the Toronto commonplace in the early 20th century.
Police Service indicates that hate Nelson and Fleras state, "antipathy
1 ^
crimes have occurred with greater towards others has pervaded much of
frequency in recent years, with an 88% Canada's post-Confederation history"
increase in incidents of hate crimes and that "myths about our enlightened
from 1993 to 1999.5 In addition, race relations record are deeply
incidents of hate (such as assaults, entrenched in our collective memories,
vandalism, arson and threats of but the truth remains that slavery and
violence) have increased dramatically race riots, along with a variety of racist
across Canada since the terrorist organisations such as the Ku Klux
attacks in the United States on 11 Klan, flourished at different times in

r September 2001. The concern is that,


despite the government's dedication to
Canadian history."9 In fact, Canada had
highly restrictive immigration policies

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in the early twentieth century that Jews were not the only group to
either excluded certain racial groups suffer widespread discrimination in
from entering or demanded the Canada during this period; Asians were
payment of a head tax as well as also the victims of exclusionary orders
policies that limited the employment of and discriminatory business practices.
visible minorities. For the most part, Asian groups were
only permitted to reside in Canada for I
Many scholars note that anti- labour-oriented positions (such as the
£■
$
%
/.$
*
Semitism was pervasive in Canada building of railway lines) and were
during the first half of the twentieth also subjected to a discriminatory head
century.10 Physical assaults of Eastern tax. During the Second World War,
European Jews, exclusionary business Japanese-Canadians were labelled as
and employment practices, and the "enemy aliens" and stripped of their
stereotyping of Jews as a threat to rights, placed in internment camps, and
Christian society were not uncommon had their property and businesses
during this period; and this hostility confiscated. Although the internments
towards Jews only increased as the were meant to derail any attempt by the
Depression worsened. The Ku Klux Japanese to establish a subversive
Klan was also very popular in the movement in Canada, no evidence was
1920s, with chapters in both uiban ever found to substantiate the
centres and rural towns across Canada. concern.12 Nelson and Fleras argue that
In the early 1930s, Jews were the the "suppression of basic human rights
targets of intimidation and violence at was caused by racist antipathy" and a
a beach in Toronto by large groups of lack of political leadership.13 It should
young people (some wearing the also be noted that Chinese and Sikh
swastika) and a full-riot broke out in immigrants were also victims of human
Christie Pits in Toronto when a largely rights violations during this period.
Jewish baseball team played an Anglo-
Saxon team. Adding to Jewish Organised Racism and Hate in the
concerns was the development of Contemporary Period: 1960-2000
fascist groups across Canada that
included the Toronto Swastika Club, Although anti-Semitism
the Swastika Association of Canada, declined slightly in the immediate post
the National Social Christian Party, war period, organised racist groups re
Deutsche Bund, and the Canadian appeared in Canada in the 1960s.
Union of Fascists. The development of During this period, and likely
the fascist and National Socialist mirroring the developments in
movement in Canada resulted in extremist politics in the United States
widespread and open discrimination of that included the appearance of George
Jews. While many Canadians did not Lincoln Rockwell's American Nazi
condone anti-Semitism during this Party, there was a surge of far right
period, many did not publicly condemn activity in Canada. In addition, the
it. This indifference to anti-Semitism is appearance of anti-democratic and far
epitomised in the unwillingness of right groups marks a period of change
Canadians to challenge the in the political and social climate in
government's refusal to permit Jewish Canada towards public acceptance of
refugees fleeing from Nazi persecution rightwing radicalism. Peter Li notes:
on the St. Louis to land in June 1939. A
change in attitude did not occur until The persistence of racial
war was officially declared. supremacist groups in Canada
pp)

has to be seen in a broader organisation.17 Established in 1967 by


social context in that these Paul Fromm, Leigh Smith, and Don
groups in themselves cannot Andrews, the group grew to more than
survive unless there are at least 1000 members by the early 1970s and
some public sympathy and organised demonstrations against
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endorsement for the racist ideas communist, Black, and radical leftwing
these groups stand for. groups in Toronto. Publicly, the
Edmunde Burke Society denied any

r In fact, Nelson and Fleras suggest that


the "racism embedded in the wider
society has provided an environment in
connection to racialism, stating that the
group was created to fight communism
and preserve democratic principles, but
which the radical right has been able to by the early 1970s the racialist
take root," noting that white nationalist undertones of the group became
groups represent a "more overt and apparent as the leadership made many
§&•)
extreme version" of latent racist negative statements about Jews
impulses in society. (effectively linking Jews with
Bolshevism and the spread of
Overview of the Contemporary Far communism). The Edmunde Burke
Right Movement Society also became hostile and
regularly used violence to counter
imp The Canadian Nazi Party was perceived non-Christian influences.
founded by John Beattie in 1965 and
eventually disbanded in 1978. During In 1972, the Edmunde Burke
this period, Beattie organised several Society changed its name to the
neo-Nazi meetings in Toronto, one of Western Guard, signalling a change
which ended in a riot with protestors. from anti-communism to a more
After the Canadian Nazi Party radical and overt pro-Christian and
disbanded, Beattie teamed up with racialist platform. As a result of the
John Ross Taylor (who led the Western radicalisation, both Smith and Fromm
Guard in the late 1970s) to form the left the organisation, deciding that the
short-lived anti-immigrant British more extremist mandate was
People's League. A stalwart of the counterproductive given the current
rightwing movement, Beattie also political and social climate in Canada.
napMp

organised neo-Nazi gatherings in 1988 Under Andrews' leadership, the group


and 1989 on his property in Minden, focused its efforts on fighting Zionism,
Ontario. His second gathering, called Jewish groups, and Black activists.
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"Save Our Canada Day Festival," From 1972 to 1976, the Western Guard
attracted more than 200 racial activists developed a non-white immigration
from Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and platform and identified itself as the
New York State and resulted in a large protector of white, Christian
cross being burned in celebration of the civilisation:
Aryan race.
'PP The Western Guard is
Although the Canadian Nazi dedicated to preserve and
Party left its mark on the far right promote the basic social and
scene, the most significant racialist spiritual values of White
group to appear in Canada during the people. Under the symbol of
1960s was the Edmunde Burke the Celtic cross, we fight for
Society, a group self-described as a our Christian moral values, our
militant and conservative activist European heritage, and the

.ip
spiritual and
18 cultural rebirth of
and John Metzger of the US-based
White Aryan Resistance) spoke to
i
our people. f*SI|
crowds of more than 200 supporters.
However, the legal system The Heritage Front also organised a
finally caught up to the leader of the number of private celebrations,
Western Guard. In 1976, Andrews was including an annual Martyr's Day rally
arrested in connection with a terrorist commemorating the death of Robert
plot (he planned to detonate a bomb at Jay Matthews, the leader of The Order
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a soccer match between Canada and (a terrorist offshoot of the Aryan
the Israeli national team at University Nations). The Heritage Front also
of Toronto's Varsity Stadium) and focused on recruiting new members
charged with attempted arson and the from secondary schools and held a
illegal possession of firearms and number of racist rock concerts to
explosives. Soon after, the leadership increase interest among young people.
of the Western Guard was handed over m
^
to John Ross Taylor and Andrews went Conflict between the Heritage
on to form the Nationalist Party of Front, anti-racist activists, and the
Canada. Taylor, however, lacked
Andrews' leadership skills and the
Western Guard finally disbanded in
police was not unusual in the early
1 9 9 0 s . O n e o f t h e fi e r c e s t
confrontations took place on 29 May
l
1983. 1993 in Ottawa after a large group of
youth members, led by Droege and
After a series of setbacks, a George Burdi, marched on Parliament
number of members from the Hill.21 Following impromptu speeches,
Nationalist Party of Canada decided to the neo-Nazis attacked both anti-racist
form their own group. Led by protestors and innocent bystanders.
Similar incidents took place on a
Wolfgang Droege, the Heritage Front
came into existence on 25 September number of occasions in Toronto. In
1989 and went public in November at a addition to street fights, a number of
meeting held by the Northern Heritage Front members were involved
Foundation in Ottawa.19 Although the in assaults, drug trafficking, and armed
Heritage Front had many goals, r o b b e r y. F o r e x a m p l e , o n 2 7
including aspirations to gain political September 1993, two Heritage Front
office, the primary purpose of the members, one armed with a sawed-off
group was to unite the various far right shotgun, robbed a coffee shop in
organisations in Canada under a single Toronto. Apparently, the men grew
banner to advance the cause of white tired of an overall lack of direct action
nationalism. According to a report by to advance white nationalism and
the Security Intelligence Review decided to take things into their own
Committee, the advancement of the hands.22
nationalist movement under the
Heritage Front included the plan to After 12 years as leader,
ffi^i
purchase land in rural Ontario in order Droege finally retired from the far right
to create a whites-only enclave. movement in January 2001, leaving
Marc Lemire, the web-master of the
Between 1989 and 1994, the Freedomsite and close associate of
Heritage Front grew to more than Paul Fromm, in control of the Heritage
1,800 members and held a number of Front. Although the Heritage Front
public and semi-public meetings at continues to exist in a number of cities
which high profile racists (such as Tom across Canada, the group is fraught
F
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with internal disputes and a lack of they are reported at all) in a non-
overall commitment and is on the standardised fashion. However, recent
ip
verge of collapse. reports from police agencies indicate
that most hate crime perpetrators are
However, there are a number of young males between the ages of 18
■p other well-established white and 29 and that most incidents occur in
supremacist or extremist groups ready urban settings.23
to assume the role as national leader.
For example, the US-based National A 1995 report by the
Alliance has established a foothold in Department of Justice estimates that
Alberta and the Canada First there were more than 60,000 incidents
Jpt
Immigration Reform Committee and of hate in Canada in 1994 and that, of
the Canadian Association for Free the 1000 incidents reported by a select
Expression has more than 2,500 group of law enforcement agencies,
members and regularly holds meetings 61% were directed at racial
across Canada. In addition, new racist minorities.24 In addition, a national
organisations, such as the Canadian survey of Anti-Semitic incidents in
Heritage Alliance and the Canadian Canada by the League for Human
Ethnic Cleansing Team, have not only Rights in 1994 states that there were
established a following across Canada 146 reports in Toronto, 55 in Montreal,
(in less than a year of operation), but and 36 in Ottawa.25 Another study by
have also developed significant links to the League for Human Rights indicates
several US-based racist groups, that, on a national level, there were 210
IIB) indicating a capacity for networking incidents of anti-Semitism in 1990, 251
and organisational expansion. The in 1991, 196 in 1992, 256 in 1993, and
concern is that increasing levels of 290 in 1994.26 In addition, the Ottawa
unemployment, combined with the Police Service reports that, in 1994, a
anxiety that followed the September 11 total of 295 hate incidents were
terrorist attacks in the United States, reported, and that 215 of the incidents
will encourage more Canadians to seek were racially motivated. 27
out and join the far right movement.
Hate Incidents: Post-September 11
Quantitative Data: 1990-1995
Since 11 September 01,
While a number of incidents, as incidents of hate and race-based
well as the presence of hate groups, has behaviour have increased dramatically,
■P
served to create a level of public creating an environment of fear and
awareness about hate and racism, there uncertainty for Muslims and those of
is little quantitative data available. In Middle-Eastern decent. Immediately
fact, much of the research to date has following the attacks, Muslims in
either been in the form of qualitative Canada were targeted for abuse. Jehad
analyses or theoretical works dealing Aliweiwi, the executive director for the
with hate group activity, legislative Canadian Arab Federation, stated, "We
alternatives, and general concepts of are seen as the enemy within... [and]
racism or discrimination. At present, are now in a state of siege," noting that
ap Canada does not have a centralised Arab and Muslim communities feel as
reporting system for the collection of though they are now in a "sea of
police reported statistics regarding hate hate."28
incidents (as is legislated in the United
States), rather statistics are reported (if
The increase in hate incidents is Muslims and Arabs, however,
dramatic and varied. For example, are not the only groups to be targeted;
Hamilton-Wentworth police report in fact, Jews, Hindus, and Sikhs have
that, between September 19 and also become targets of hate. In
November 19, 2001, a total of 71 October, more than a dozen Jewish
incidents of hate were reported and groups and leaders in Ontario and
included seven assaults, two arsons, 13 Quebec received a threatening letter
cases of harassment, and seven reports that alluded to anthrax and contained a
of hate-based graffiti. In comparison, a white powder. Although tests indicate
total of 59 incidents were reported in that the powder was non-lethal, it did
all of 2000, representing a 20% result in several buildings being
increase over the previous year's total evacuated. One of the investigating
in just two months. Similar hate officers indicated that the letters
motivated acts have occurred originated from an extremist group
elsewhere in Canada, including based in the Waterloo area. Moreover, fWfSt

vandalism to mosques in Oshawa, a Hindu Temple in Hamilton was


Waterloo, London, Montreal, and firebombed on the weekend following
Halifax and mosques were firebombed the terrorist attacks, causing more than
in Montreal, St. Catherines, $600,000 in damage. Police believe
Burlington, and Mississauga. In a that the perpetrators mistook the
residential area of Guelph, vandals building for a mosque.
spray-painted "Killers" and "Go home"
on a small mosque and, in Mississauga, September 11 and the Canadian Far
four teens were charged with hate- Right
motivated vandalism after they
smashed windows at a Muslim The heightened fear, insecurity,
community centre. Other incidents and xenophobia have encouraged many
include a vicious attack on a young Canadians to look towards the far right
person in Ottawa by a group of white for personal guidance and protection.
youths, an attack on a Middle-Eastern In a recent article in Macleans
doctor in Montreal, and a hate group Magazine, Paul Fromm notes the
member in London charged with terrorist attacks have sensitised people
making death threats and counselling and that "there is a real interest" in
to commit murder. A recent study by
the Council on American-Islamic
extreme immigration reform, including
a five year moratorium on all 1
Relations Canada indicates that hate immigration to Canada.
incidents are definitely on the rise.
From September 11 to November 15, The heightened fear has also
the CAIRC has received a total of 110 served to justify the radical right's
reports including 12 attacks on immigration reform agenda. For
mosques across Canada.29 Naeem example, a recent statement by CFIRC
Siddiqi, the director of argues that a five year moratorium on
communications for the Canadian all immigration is necessary in order to
Muslim Civil Liberties Association "weed out the terrorists," identifying
points out that the study only contains Muslim, Sikh, and Tamil communities
"written harassment reports" and that as the areas of greatest concern. The /W$$ |

the "true extent of the backlash is statement also urges the government to
significantly higher." repeal the policy of multiculturalism,
arguing that "Canada is a democracy,
Christian in its roots, British in its
political traditions and European in its Media Misconceptions About the
culture [and that] only people who can Backlash
fit in and pledge allegiance to this
Dominion with these characteristics While reports indicate that
should be welcome."32 The article hate-motivated acts have increased,
concludes: "Let us show Moslems of some mainstream writers question the
all stripes that we don't wish to meddle extent of the backlash. For example.
in their world but, by God, they'd Christie Blatchford, of the National
better not meddle in ours!"33 In other Post, argues that a backlash against
words, reformist agenda seeks to Muslims has simply not happened,
restrict immigration to Christian noting that, "only a handful of serious
Europeans. so-called 'hate' incidents" have
occurred. Similarly, Lorrie Goldstein,
The use of fear-mongering of the Toronto Sun, points out that
tactics by the far rightwing movement Canada is punishing itself for the "few
is not new. In 1999, the far right used unconscionable but isolated and widely
massive influx of Chinese migrants to condemned attacks on innocent
gain mainstream publicity and market a Muslim/Arab Canadians and others in
subtle racist message. Harry Abrams the wake of Sept. 11." In other words,
notes that the issue of Chinese the critics suggest that the increase in
migrants was used to piggyback a hate incidents, and the ensuing impact
broader xenophobic message. on society, has been negligible.
Likewise, Li argues, that racial
extremist groups "are effective in
providing the means and the rationale
for disgruntled and marginalized
individuals to divert their hostilities
and blames to racial minorities for
what they see as 'paradise lost.'"
Karen Mock, the executive director of
the Canadian Race Relations
Foundation, notes that increased
economic insecurity and anxiety can
lead to the use of immigrants or visible
minorities as scapegoats, noting that "a Above: A Hindu Temple in Hamilton was
set on fire in retaliation for the Sept. 11
recessionary climate leads people to terrorist attacks.
scapegoat others for their problems,
and in that kind of climate there is a However, the critics do a
backlash against immigration and tremendous disservice. By focusing on
racial minorities." the number of hate incidents rather
than the act, the critics neglect to
Other far right groups, such as
comprehend the true impact of hate on
the Canadian Ethnic Cleansing Team, both the individual and the community.
the Canadian Heritage Alliance, and Hate crimes are not victimless crimes
the National Alliance, have also or acts of convenience; rather they are
capitalised on latent expressions of highly personal attacks based on
xenophobia to gain a broad audience fundamental human characteristics
and increase membership.
(race, ethnicity, religious affiliation,
etc.) that provide an individual's sense
of being and can inflict profound
psychological damage. In addition, by
creating an environment of fear and f g fi .
intimidation, hate crimes undermine
the foundations of democracy and
multiculturalism.

Summary

Although the Canadian


government is committed to 1
eradicating inequalities and all forms
of hate, immigrants and visible-
minorities continue to be the targets of
discrimination. Nelson and Fleras note
that, "there is ample evidence that
discrimination is a pervasive and
persistent feature of Canadian society,
even though this truth may be at odds
with our collective self-image as a
tolerant and generous people."37 In
fact, manifestations of hate continued
unabated throughout the twentieth
century in a variety forms, including
attacks by seemingly average
Canadians, systemic discrimination of
immigrants by the government, and the
use of religious and racial groups as
scapegoats by extremist groups. The
problem in Canada is not that the
government has neglected to take the
appropriate steps to eliminate hate and
encourage multiculturalism, but rather
that many Canadians remain apathetic
about the issues of racism and
discrimination; and that this inaction
creates an environment were hate can
flourish.
1
CHAPTER 2. retention, disaffiliation, demographics,
social and psychological stressors, and
The Social Dynamic of Involvement ideological structure.
in Far Right Extremism
Ideological Themes of the Radical
A common misconception Rightwing
about the radical rightwing movement
(i.e. racial extremist movement) is that Although mainstream society
they specifically target socially has a general conception of the
alienated young people for recruitment ideological themes that constitute the
and, through a process of extreme rightwing movement (for
indoctrination and ritual, brainwash example, an adherence to a racist or
recruits to be committed members. In white supremacist worldview),
addition, mainstream society, in scholars define the movement in a
particular the media and law variety of ways. For example, some
enforcement agencies, typically refer to scholars base a definition of the radical
racial activists as 'fanatics' and 'social rightwing on the level of hostility
degenerates,' creating a convenient directed towards society and the
scapegoat to dismiss the existence of willingness to use violence to achieve a
organised racism in a multicultural and specific end while other scholars define
democratic society. rightwing extremism purely from an
ideological standpoint (i.e. if they
However, identifying racialist adhere to a worldview that combines
groups as a collection of fanatics and overt racism, xenophobia, and
degenerates does little to offer insight nationalism).41 The problem is that the
into the social problem. In fact, such contemporary rightwing extremist
simplistic categorisations may hinder a movement does not possess the
detailed analysis of the economic, revolutionary outlook, the socio
social, and psychological factors economic structure, or the rejection of
leading to involvement in the racial democratic principles associated with
extremist movement. In addition, European fascism of the Second World
identifying organised racism as a War, in particular the German National
phenomenon strictly contained to the Socialist Worker's Party (NSDAP).42
Wfst
margins of society (not representative That is, the contemporary racial
of mainstream society) serves to nationalist movement has gone through
minimise the extent of the problem in a significant transformation with the
the West. Peter Li notes: "The more successful authoritarian groups
persistence of racial supremacist refining their image by rejecting the
groups in Canada has to be seen in a use of violence as a viable means to
broader social context in that these achieve specific goals, using the label
groups in themselves probably cannot of 'national populist' (rather than
survive unless there are at least some racialist or white supremacist), and
public sympathy and endorsement for focusing upon tangible issues such as
the racist ideas these groups stand economic and immigration reform.
for."40 A more productive analysis of Leonard Weinburg notes: "explicitly
the radical rightwing movement, racist and xenophobic appeals are often
therefore, takes into consideration the partially submerged by expressions of
interactive nature of group behaviour concern about the threat to jobs posed
and identifies the complexities of by immigrants and by the public costs
involvement including recruitment,
-J
10
'i

involved in providing them with social to destroy (through out-breeding) the J


services."43 white race. According to the extreme
An examination of the radical rightwing, Jews use multiculturalism
j
i
rightwing reveals at least three and the notion of a common human
common and interlinked ideological race as strategic weapons in the race
themes. The first theme is the solidarity war. For example, Wolfgang Droege
of the ethnic (racial) community as the argues: "There are a lot of high octane
foundation of the state. In essence, the Jewish nationalists who are determined
radical rightwing considers the white to weaken our opposition. They engage
community (i.e. the bloodlines of the in the same programme of destroying
white or Aryan race) as the basis for white society over and over again. The
social solidarity. For example, white efforts of organised Jewry is
power groups, such as the Heritage antagonistic to the health of white
Front, identify a common ancestry of nations... and we are suffering the
the white race, arguing that those who redistribution of wealth to non-whites
identify themselves as white and through Jewish racial-Marxism.' In
originating from European bloodlines addition, Cas Muddle notes:
qualify as white. Wolfgange Droege, "Everything that is considered 'alien,'
the former leader of the Heritage Front, or deviating from their own nation and
states: "Racialist is a mind set. We are conventions, is portrayed as negative
and is perceived as threatening.'
moving away from the old Nordic
notion of the white race. We see
ourselves as racial nationalists.... We The third theme is the
i
are white people, with Aryan ties, recognition of established power (i.e.
fighting for the continuation of the state authority) as illegitimate. In
white race."44 Moreover, the Tri-City essence, the extreme rightwing
Skins' website notes, "purity of stock movement identifies established power
should date at least to the great- as corrupt and illegitimate because it is
grandparents.... [and] that there must under the direct influence of the
be no trace WHATSOEVER of Zionist Occupation Government.
Negroid, mongoloid, and Jeffrey Kaplan notes that Jews are seen
ESPECIALLY jew [sic] blood to as the primary threat to the continued
qualify one as Aryan." 5 Expanding on existence of the white race and
the notion of racial solidarity, the identified as "the hidden hand behind
National Alliance states that it believes everything from the civil rights
in the "ties of blood" rather than movement to the tyranny of the
"political or geographic borders."46 state."49 Since established power is
considered illegitimate, any use of
The second theme is that of violence or hostility is therefore
xenophobia and racism, in particular c o n s i d e r e d j u s t i fi a b l e . R a c i a l
anti-Semitism. In the racialist nationalists consider themselves to be
worldview, non-whites are recognised representatives of a superseding moral
as inferior and Jews are identified as authority commonly referred to as 'the
the perpetrators of an international Laws of Nature' (i.e. the principles of
conspiracy (known as the Zionist racial law), and therefore not under the
€?S i

Occupation Government) to create a jurisdiction of the laws of the nation-


one-world government and, through state. For example, the National
the power of the United Nations and Alliance states that it does not support,
NATO, increase migration of non- or participate in, the democratic
whites into traditionally white societies process because it is both terminally

^33fj»
11

corrupt and contrary to their study of the American far rightwing


worldview.50 movement in the 1960s, Lipset and
■■
J Raab found that involvement of the
L Socio-Economic Factors of middle-class was based on
Involvement opportunities (such as wealth or

r Involvement in the radical


rightwing movement fluctuates with
employment status) inconsistent with
expectations and other economic
stressors.53 Likewise, Nigel Fielding
19^
peaks in membership consistent with argues that the far rightwing is
L perceived threats or actual downturns comprised of both the lower and
in socio-economic conditions. For middle classes, indicating that
example, membership in the extreme involvement by the lower class is
rightwing movement peaked motivated by frustration and a lack of
immediately following economic status whereas the middle class is
Wf^
upheavals in the 1970s, the 1980s, the motivated by fears of dispossession
1990s, and again in early 2001. In a and downward pressures on socio
survey of racial extremist members economic status.54 Furthermore, Ehud
between 1997 and 2001, 75% of Sprinzak notes that anxiety regarding
respondents indicated that they "felt unemployment and anti-immigrant
economically worse off' than their settlement has played a fundamental
role in increasing far right activity in
pW| parents. Respondents also indicated 55
that their involvement was motivated Europe.
by a need to alter the current economic
situation and effectively blamed Social Factors of Involvement
immigrants for high rates of
unemployment and other social Based on surveys and
problems. For example, Wolfgang interviews of extreme rightwing
Droege maintains that white society is members between 1997 and 2001,
"heading towards economic ruin" due involvement in the movement appears
to the redistribution of wealth to non- to be a function of two social
39l
whites. Furthering this line of conditions. The first condition is that of
reasoning, the Heritage Front website interpersonal involvement. In essence,
involvement in extremist groups

r argues: "Today most of our social ills


can be traced to heavy immigration and
to the amount of money our country
has to divert to help non-whites."51
increases when an individual has social
links to one or more group members
through pre-existing or developing
interpersonal ties.56 Extreme rightwing
The findings regarding socio groups normally operate in a semi-
economic status appear to be consistent closed fashion by recruiting trusted or
with that of other studies. For example, familiar individuals (although they do
this study found that approximately not usually regulate extra-group
58% of respondents identified relationships with friends or family
themselves (their current socio unaffiliated with the racialist
economic status) as either middle-class movement).57 In a study on
or upper-middle class (and a further involvement of women in organised
iisi^ 25% identified themselves as upper racism, Kathleen Blee notes that the
working class) and acknowledged that radical rightwing does not draw a
immigrants and current employment specific type of individual; rather the
conditions threaten their socio common denominator was that they
economic status.52 Similarly, in their had known someone who was a
12

member and that this relationship in encouraging involvement. In fact,


encouraged involvement. Racial the development of a sense of
tW^y i

extremist groups largely recruit new belonging and the maintenance of


members from other groups (i.e. using relationships is vital to recruitment and
existing social networks) or through continued involvement in the far right
interpersonal ties such as family movement. For example, a former
relations or friendships, which may recruiter indicates that potential
explain the high level of cross members are more likely to become
membership between various neo-Nazi involved if a sense of belonging and
groups. For example, many members purpose is nurtured. To this end, the
of the Tri-City Skins are also members recruiter argues that personal meetings,
of the Canadian Ethnic Cleansing small gatherings, and Internet-based
Team and, in the mid-1990s most chat room discussions are effective
members of the Canadian division of tools in creating an environment of
the Church of the Creator were also belonging. ^Sjffi

members of the Heritage Front. It must


also be pointed out that, while some The second condition is that of
groups have open membership (this
appears to be a strategy to raise
operating funds), there are a number of
feelings of anxiety and a lack of extra
movement social networks.
Involvement in the radical far right
i
different levels of membership movement is less likely if individuals
operating simultaneously within the have countervailing social activities or
group with more trusted or familiar social support networks. Respondents
members gaining greater access to report that issues such as comradeship,
group activities. For instance, while the empowerment, and identity play a
Heritage Front provides a membership central role in searching out and
card to all applicants, only those joining a group. Richard Wolin notes
closely associated with the leadership that the radical rightwing "abounds
of a group may attend meetings. with examples of how feelings of
anxiety and social isolation, political
Although external membership exasperation and powerlessness, loss of
recruitment does exist, such as purpose in life, and insecurity."60
campaigns directed at securing new Moreover, Nigel Fielding argues that
youth members,59 the percentage of racial extremist groups serve as a
new members external to the community for members, effectively
movement is very small. For example, "promoting a sense of belonging and f^ffijB !

in a recent survey of people interested providing reinforcement and


in joining a new racial extremist support."61 Respondents also claim
organisation, less than 10% of the that, when joining a group, they felt
respondents claimed not to have prior alienated from society and were
involvement in, or connection to (via seeking likeminded individuals. For
social affiliations), the radical example, a current member states: "I
rightwing movement. This is not to say feel alone in Canada... there's not
that literature distribution directed at really a feeling of comradeship here."
sympathetic or susceptible audiences Another member declares: "My friends
do not share my beliefs... that's why I ■P
^i
(or online information) is not effective
in creating awareness of, and access to, am trying to meet new people, to get
a particular group, rather that social way from those idiots." A recent
factors, such as interpersonal defector points out that, if he had social
relationships, play a more decisive role support or was involved in other
F 13
■H
yt

activities, he likely would not have Secondly, there does not appear
sought involvement, indicating that the to be a precursor, such as educational
pp
racial extremist movement provided a background, or experiential determent,
sense of direction and connected him such as a personal crisis or family
to "something bigger than humanity." background (i.e. a parent having a
John Schwarzmantel notes that, as a racist mindset) leading to involvement.
result of dramatic social and political For example, members come from a
change, the contemporary political variety of educational backgrounds
pan environment has created a global crisis (including college and university
of ideology and identity, and that graduates) and from both rural and
"nationalism, whether the civic or the urban settings. Moreover, members
ethnic kind, provides a sense of indicate that they come from a variety
community and in times of dislocation of political backgrounds (in terms of
and uncertainty it offers security and parent's political affiliation) that range
personal identity."6 from rightwing to leftwing. One
member indicates that his mother is a
It is important to note two union representative and another
additional aspects: Firstly, that all member indicates that his parents are
respondents indicate that involvement "die-hard liberal supporters." In
in the radical rightwing movement is a addition, some members report that
'conscious decision' and that they experienced a personal crisis, such
deception, regarding the racialist as an altercation with an individual or
objectives or mandate of the group, group (identified as belonging to the
was not used to encourage visible minority community) or a
involvement. This is not to say that the break-up with a girlfriend, prior to
recruit knew of, or was warned about, seeking involvement in the far
the potential for violence (directed at rightwing movement. The findings
perceived enemies of the movement indicate that, contrary to popular belief,
such as visible minorities or state hatred and involvement is not
authority) that exists in the movement, necessarily learned from the parents
rather that the individual was aware (although parents can nurture racists
(prior to involvement) of the attitudes by permitting them to be

r underlying racial structure of the expressed at home), rather that a


groups. In fact, the potential for personal crisis and the existence of
violence is often minimised by racialist social networks play a more direct role
leaders in order to persuade recruits to in encouraging an individual to seek
M
join the group. However, other involvement in the organised racist
members indicate that the potential for movement.
confrontation and violence is an
attractive feature and is one of the Disaffiliation
primary reasons for involvement; in
essence, the use of violence satisfies Leaving the racial extremist
tip their sense of adventure. Involvement, movement is often extremely difficult
therefore, is not the result of deception due to the close-knit social structure of
or brainwashing, rather it is based on the group. A former member indicates
'Sty the expectation that membership will that it was difficult to leave the
empower the individual to achieve movement because she lacked external
certain goals or satisfy needs. social connections; that is, the group
represented the totality of her friends
and that leaving the group left her
14

isolated. Another former member Moreover, violence is used as an


complains of a lack of social support expression of discontent with
normative society. In comparison,
(in particular people who he could
discuss his involvement in the far right more sophisticated and well-organised
movement with) during the withdrawal rightwing groups (i.e. moderate groups
such as the Canadian Association for
process, indicating that pressure (due
to social alienation) to remain in the Free Expression), tend not to use
violence and attract members that are
group is overwhelming. Moreover,
several respondents indicate that group typically over 40 years of age.
leaders often discourage leaving
Consistent with Sprinzak, the
through the application of
racial extremist groups in this study
psychological pressures or threats of
tend to be youth-based. Survey results
physical harm, making withdrawal
from the racialist movement more indicate that the average age of the
Heritage Front is 28.4 years, but that ?lf^i ■
difficult.63 Successful removal from the
far rightwing, therefore, is dependent 53.4% of all respondents are under the
on the cultivation of external social age of 29 and that the mode age is 24.65
networks that permit the individual to Similarly, a survey of racial extremists
satisfy the needs of connectedness, ( i n d i v i d u a l s s e l f - i d e n t i fi e d a s
belonging, and identity. Support of the extremists) based in Canada and the
individual, and elimination of United States reveals that 59% of
interpersonal ties with members respondents are under age 29 and that
involved in the racialist movement, are only 16% are over the age of 45.
essential for withdrawal (see Appendix Moreover, a survey of Canadian racial ^■
w
1 for factors of involvement and extremists indicates that 72.6% of the
suggestions for removal). respondents are under the age of 29. In
comparison, the Canadian Heritage
Demographics of Involvement Alliance (which is a youth-based, and
seemingly moderate, racialist group
The neo-Nazi skinhead and with links to violent neo-Nazi
extreme rightwing movement is largely organisations) has a mean age of 26
comprised of young adults, typically years. In groups such as the Tri-City
ages 18 through 28. Ehud Sprinzak Skins, nearly all known members are
notes: "The majority of them are very younger than 29 years of age.
young and are more involved in a
cultural than a political crisis" and that Approaches to the Study of Extreme
"the adoption and glorification of racist Rightwing Organisations
and anti-Semitic violence seems to be
less a logical conclusion of a certain Although there are a number of
different theoretical frameworks that
political thinking and more of an
emotional consequence of a youthful could be used to effectively analyse
cultural rebellion and a denial of the and delineate the factors of
normative status quo."64 In other involvement, such as Social Identity
words, the movement is comprised of Theory or Symbolic Interactionism,
and each is suited equally well to
young people seeking an alternate
cultural-base (i.e. social connections uncovering specific aspects of *^hk! f

and identity) rather than a political involvement, this section will utilise a
movement (although political and Transformational Approach to
racial issues figure prominently in the organisations to analyse the extreme
extreme rightwing worldview). far right movement. The decision to
15
m)

use this approach is based on four organisational development, and inter-


aspects: (1) ix emphasises the group relations. Charismatic religious
$Wi
interaction between members and or totalistic groups (controlled by a
leaders in the development of the formal leader or hierarchy that strictly
controls membership) are typically
group, (2) it emphasises the importance
of social factors (such as group analysed by using top-down theories.
influences and pressures), (3) it The Transformational Approach,
accounts for the social factors of which acknowledges social influences
involvement in counter-cultural in the satisfaction of personal needs
movements, and (4) it permits for a and objectives, argues that collective
behaviour (i.e. the formation of

r
positivist and normative (in-group)
analysis of the group's worldview and racialist groups) is the product of the
actions, which is essential to interaction between the leadership and
understanding the motivations and group members; in other words, a
rationale of involvement. group is not the creation of an
individual (i.e. a charismatic leader),
The Transformational Approach but rather it is socially formed.

T h e Tr a n s f o r m a t i o n a l Understanding Organisations
Approach to organisational psychology
is a recent development in which Organisations are defined as the
groups are understood as being a part development of a relationship between
of an interconnected whole, and that two or more people who have a
groups are influenced by, while at the conscious intention to combine
same time influencing, members and abilities or assume specific
other groups. The Transformational responsibilities to achieve an end
(defined goals or objectives). Max
r Approach argues that groups are not
stagnant and that they are in a constant Weber views groups as a "system of
state of flux, effectively changing to legitimate interaction patterns among
nil
accommodate to new environmental organisational members as they engage
circumstances. This approach differs in activities in the pursuit of goals."
from early group theories that argue Groups are human creations that are
established to achieve a given and

r groups are static and unchanging. The


transformational approach, therefore,
argues that groups are dynamic social
structures existing within a larger,
changeable end. In addition, groups are
comprised of activities and behaviours
linked and regularised that ultimately
unpredictable, fluid, and influential lead to a sense of structure and
social matrix. permanence. Organisations, therefore,
are social, corporate, sports, interests,
n This approach is best suited to or ethnic groups that limit membership
an analysis of the far right movement and regulate behaviour in order to
due to its recognition of the cyclical ensure conformity and cohesiveness.
pattern of influence upon ideology,
objectives, and social interaction (i.e. Central to the Transformational
inter-group behaviour). In essence, Approach is that groups are
traditional theories argue that groups consciously created and that
are defined through a hierarchical (top- membership (in the group by an
down) pattern of influence, identifying individual) is actively sought. While
positional authority as the central some people may join organisations for
influence in decision-making, unconscious reasons or pressures, the
rtj

16
fs^i

Transformational Approach maintains dedicated to the removal of other


that, in most circumstances, people groups such as communists,
consciously join a group to achieve a homosexuals, Jews, etc. As the group
specific end; thus, groups attract becomes known in society and attracts
likeminded individuals with similar or a larger membership, the structure of
congruent goals who are willing to
accept group-defined regulations (to
act in accordance with group norms) in
the group may increase from a narrow
perspective to a broader perspective,
but only in so far as new or altered
i
order to be a part of the group to goals are similar to, or reflect, the
achieve an objective. Amatzai Etzioni original objectives and are consistent
concludes that, "organisations are with the ideology of the group.
social units or human groupings
deliberately constructed and Banner and Gagne identify
reconstructed to seek specific goals."67 three main characteristics of
pSfS
That is, the creation and maintenance organisations: (1) a division of labour
of an organisation, including the where responsibilities of power and
recruitment of members and the rituals communication (such as propaganda
in which they participate, is guided and distribution) are assigned to specific f^$
co-ordinated by the need to achieve a individuals or sub-groups, (2) the
certain end. identification of a leader or leadership
(i.e. establishment of a defined
The Transformational hierarchy) in order to direct and control
Approach maintains that there is a the overall efforts of the group so that a
cyclical system of influence between specific goal or goals may be achieved,
members and the group (i.e. the and (3) defined guidelines regarding
-J
components that comprise a group acceptable or normative behaviour and
including authority and ideology). concordant punitive measures (such as
While the organisation influences a expulsion from the group) are outlined
member's belief system (worldview) in order to maintain group
and goals, the members influence the effectiveness and cohesiveness.6 All
overall structure of the group and its three components comprise a system
goals. At its very basic, organisations that allows for a visual and symbolic
achieve fluency and consistency by division from the rest of society. In
consolidating die viewpoints of the order for an organisation to be
membership. Members alter the goal productive (i.e. to achieve a specific
system of a group to include their own ends), the group must operate in a
subsets of goals, but only as long as the closed fashion, and an "us versus
member's goals do not conflict with them" mindset created and sustained.
the goals or achievements of the group For example, the racial extremist
as a whole. In essence, a balance is movement identifies external forces
struck between group and individual (such as Jews, the police, and the
objectives. Goal conflict between the government) as ideological enemies
individual and the group results in representing a physical threat to the
organisational fragmentation. For continued survival of the white race. In
example, if a group is formed that is order to maintain in-group cohesion,
dedicated to the ousting of leftists from inter-group affiliation must also be
government, new members may highly regulated in order to eliminate
influence the organisation by either both undesirable members and
having the group alter or adopt new inconsistent and incompatible outside
goals so that the group becomes influences.
r 17
PS)

The structure and identity of the infrastructure and belief system to


accommodate new members and to a
organisation is dependent on goal
jJW^
i d e n t i fi c a t i o n a n d m e t h o d o f changing society. Banner and Gagne
achievement. While a group may have maintain that groups are dynamic
multiple objectives, attainment of the structures that operate without fixed
p^
goals must also be realistic or, at the boundaries: "A collective paradigm is
very least, the group must believe that an implicit and collectively shared
success is possible. Goal attainment view of 'How things are' that
determines the structural form of an
provides the organisation with purpose »70
and an infrastructure of beliefs organisation,
(worldview), rituals, ceremonies, and
fHH)
rules that external society regards as its The collective paradigm can be
defining character. Society, therefore, understood as the shared reality among
r e c o g n i s e s a n d i d e n t i fi e s a n group members; that is, a group-
organisation through the oriented truth. Paradigms, therefore,
acknowledgement of its goals, such as are the mental and emotional models of
Group X is dedicated to the the membership that comprise the
establishment of a white nationalist collective architecture of the group
state or Group Y is committed to the (vis-a-vis the larger society). The
eradication of Jewish controlled world organisation itself becomes the
ami banks. Moreover, the membership mechanism by which the member
must understand and support understands the self-concept and the
organisational objectives or the group external reality (how one views the
PHI)
will cease to exist (groups can only world). Cartwright identifies the
exist with support) due to internal establishment of a social reality vis-a
conflict.69 For example, Don Andrews' vis the group:
Nationalist Party of Canada (NPC)
collapsed when the membership Group pressures may arise in
recognised that the group could no order to provide support for the
longer achieve its objectives (of opinions of one another by
aligning the far rightwing movement or creating, through consensus, a
achieving widespread political power); social reality. Often there is no
as a result, the leading members of the basis in logic, objective reality,
NPC went on to form the Heritage or evidence of the senses,
Front. which enables a person to
arrive at a judgement or opinion

r Objectives and ideology are


properties of the collective paradigm.
Both the defined external goals of the
he feels is appropriate. With
respect to a matter where no
directly stable evidence is

r organisation (as recognised by the


larger society) and the internal
emotional construct of the members'
available, the subjective
validity of an opinion comes to
be established by the fact that
influence casually consolidate to form other people hold similar
an overall goal strategy (the collective opinions. Forces then arise
paradigm). An organisation can, among the relevant persons to
i pppi
therefore, be understood as an organic maintain uniformity of belief
whole that influences, and is and thus to ensure a common
71
influenced by, the larger social context conception of reality.
hsu that operates in a perpetual state of
flux, changing and altering its

r
1"
18

With the creation of a social reality, of power related to authority.7^ The


internalised anxiety is externalised and first is reward power, which involves a
assigned to an outside force (i.e. system of learned behavioural
external threat such as a competing responses. Conformity is achieved
group). For example, a recent defector through the use of rewards, such as
indicates that physical confrontations accolades, money, or promotion, for
with the Anti-Racist Action or criminal appropriate behaviour. Most white
prosecutions against group leaders power groups will declare a member
serves to reinforce the group's either a hero or a martyr for certain
worldview (i.e. substantiating feelings types of behaviour, and praise is
of persecution). normally heaped upon the individual
by other members or even by the
I n t h e Tr a n s f o r m a t i o n a l movement as a whole. For example,
Approach, culture is identified as being Wolfgang Droege is honoured as a
a product through learned behaviours hero by most Canadian racialist groups
and leadership. Thoughts, values, and for his activities and willingness to go
proper behaviour are taught to to jail for the racial nationalist
members through explicit leadership movement. However, the subject must f ^ i

functions of those in positions of perceive the reward as useful and


authority. In this paradigm, learning is beneficial. This system of reward in an
based on both positive reinforcement organisation can be associated to the
(rewards) and avoidance of punishment learning paradigms of classical and
or punitive measures. Appropriate and operant conditioning.
inappropriate behaviour is taught
through specific rituals and ceremonies The second is coercive power.
and policy directives are maintained This form of power is established
through a system of rewards and through a person's ability to punish or
punishments. The purpose of rules condemn those who do not act in
(i.e. policy directives) is to establish accordance with behavioural norms.
congruency and maintain form Punishment is used as a behavioural
throughout the collective and across reinforcement to maintain conformity
time. Without formalised patterns of in the group and may include reprisals
behaviour, organisations become such as torture, psychological abuse,
unstable and volatile; stability,
cohesion, and predictability in an
demotion, fines, or expulsion.
However, in order for punishment to be i
individual being the primary effective, the subject must perceive the
psychological and sociological factors measures as real (i.e. likely to be used),
for the creation of, and involvement in, consistent (i.e. not randomly applied),
a group. Those who do not conform to and as a direct result of one's actions
a group's patterns of behaviour are (i.e. an association between the
either removed from the collective or behaviour and the punishment must be
punished. Continued reinforcement of made). For example, after a member of
behaviour is essential to organisations the Heritage Front was reported to
a s t h e y m a i n t a i n s t a b i l i t y, have stolen computer equipment from
predictability, and cohesiveness. the group, members of the security
team kidnapped the accused and
Acceptance of authority by the tortured him for several hours. In a
membership is fundamental to the more recent event, a member of the
existence of norms in an organisation. Heritage Front was publicly rebuked
Banner and Gagne identify five forms and expelled from the group after his
IPI

19
sp

failure to properly organise a white from the individual's admiration and


power celebration that was to include respect for a person held in high regard
pi racist rock bands. Banishment or by the collective as well as a way to
temporary removal from the group, and gain favour from the hero or leader.
the concern for a poor reputation in the For example, Wolfgang Droege, the
eyes of movement comrades (the idea former leader of the Heritage Front,
of street credibility rates high among remains an authority figure of the
personal concerns of members), also white power movement because he is

r serves to discourage unsanctioned


behaviour.
recognised as a great leader of the
movement and a hero for sacrificing
himself (in particular, his freedom) for
The third form of power is that the advancement of racial extremism.
of legitimate power or positional Likewise, Robert Jay Matthews is
authority (i.e. hierarchical power). This praised as a martyr by racialist groups
pw form refers to a formalised position of around the world for dying in a gun
power (such as a group leader or battle with police officers (many racial
commander) identified with a set extremist groups commemorate the day
hierarchical structure. The power of a of his death, December 7, which is
higher official is recognised with the known as Martyr's Day, with large
structure of the collective, and all gatherings or celebrations).
group members must accept the
hierarchy or the group with fragment. Conclusions
For example, Marc Lemire is
considered to be a poor leader by many Involvement in the extreme
Heritage Front members, however they rightwing movement cannot be
submit to his authority because he is reduced to a single factor, such as
recognised as the official leader of the economic uncertainty or social
group. pressures; rather it is the result of a
complex arrangement of factors
The fourth form of authority is ranging from downward pressure
expert power, which stems from the (whether real or perceived) on socio
recognition of an individual (or group economic status, familiarity through
of members) as being exceptionally social networks, and the perception
knowledgeable or skilled in a specific that involvement in the radical far right
field.74 For example, lawyers and will satisfy specific needs or permit
doctors have a highly specified area of one to achieve certain goals (such as
IP!
knowledge and are accepted as experts the satisfaction of psychological needs
within a particular field. In the racial or structural goals). For example,
extremist movement, Marc Lemire and respondents indicate that, in addition to
Alexan Kulbashian (leader of the concerns regarding downward
Canadian Ethnic Cleansing Team) are pressures on socio-economic status,
considered foremost experts in the use involvement is also influenced by
of Internet technology and are afforded social pressures as well as a desire to
a level of respect for their abilities. satisfy specific needs and goals; in
particular the desire to be socially
P) The last form of authority is connected and resolve issues regarding
that of referent power and is based on i d e n t i t y. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e
the individual being perceived by Tr a n s f o r m a t i o n a l A p p r o a c h ,
HfP} group members as a hero or effective involvement in an organisation permits
leader. Behavioural conformity stems the individual to achieve those
20

objectives, effectively providing the


individual with a sense of direction,
empowerment, and identity. In other
words, racial extremist groups function
as a community for members by
promoting a sense of belonging and
providing social support.
flWl^lfl

fSfj5||

P^pf,

(^,
jlW

21
PP

CHAPTER 3 websites are "playing a central role,


allowing hate groups to recruit,

r The Importance of Websites to the


Extreme Rightwing75
network and plan events more easily
than in pre-Web America."77 Davidson
notes that, in the pre-web period, a
The success of websites as a racialist, "would have to go to a great
recruitment tool for the racial- deal of effort and spend quite a bit of
nationalist movement remains a topic money and find a sympathetic printer
of debate among anti-racist researchers in order to produce a pamphlet that
and activists. For many, websites are might reach 100 people."78 Raymond
recognised as an incredibly successful Franklin, the director of the Hate
recruitment tool because it is Director, agrees: "[The Internet is] the
inexpensive and provides access to a new mimeograph, the new poster, the
large audience (in relation to traditional best way to get the word out - a way to
means such as flyers) by circumventing literally broadcast to the entire
geographic, financial, and legislative world."79 With a website, even a single
limitations. In other words, increased racialist organiser has the potential to
pph access to hate literature via websites reach millions of people. Richard
simply means more members. Martin succinctly notes, "Web sites are
cheap, they're easily produced, and
However, David Goldman, the they don't have to compete for shelf
former director of HateWatch, and space or viewers."80
Chip Berlet, from Political Research
BP| Associates, ardently disagree. Instead, The concern that the presence
they suggest that hate-based websites of hate-based websites encourages
do not translate into more members greater involvement may be warranted
because they fail to create a sense of given that a recent survey indicates use
community. That is, websites do not of the Internet has increased among all
increase a group's membership age groups and family types and that
,iPH
because they do not satisfy the approximately 5 million Canadian
psychological and social needs of the households now have access to the
individual. world-wide-web.81 In addition, the
survey notes, "access rates are
■P
S
U
I
Increased Access as a Measure of particularly high among households
Success with children" and that two-thirds of
those who responded to the survey
(Ipf For several years, experts have expressed concern about the Internet
warned policymakers that the material viewed "by household
proliferation of hate-based websites members under the age of 18." In
directly results in increased group addition, a study conducted by NUA
membership because they provide Internet Surveys indicates that there are
greater access to group literature. Mark more than 171 million Internet users
Weitzman, from the Simon Weisenthal worldwide and that the United States
Centre, argues that access to the and Canada accounts for more than 97
Internet and the increase in the number million users, indicating that a hate-
of hate-based websites has given based website has tremendous potential
"extremists the largest potential for reaching a broad and new audience.
audience for recruits and for
pfl) propaganda that they have ever had."76 Even the racialists agree with
Moreover, Ross Davidson notes that the idea that the Internet (specifically
0->

websites) is a highly successful movement. Recently, Duke established


mechanism for recruiting new an office in Russia to develop ties with
members and expanding the European nationalists and promote his
movement. Don Black, the latest book, but he remains in constant
administrator of the world's largest contact with North American racialists
racialist website, notes: through his website and via email. In
an article he wrote on the white
It's been a tremendous boon for revolution, Duke praises hate-based
us. That's why I dedicate most websites for their accessibility:
of my time to this. I feel like
I've accomplished more on the Millions of people are going
Web than in my 25 years of online in America. Now, if they
political activism. Whereas want to find out about me and
before, we could reach only my ideas all they have to do is
people with pamphlets or go to a search engines and FS

search for "David Duke."


holding rallies, now we can
reach potentially millions.83 Hundreds of sources will show
up. There they can access my ^$
In an interview with New Times in site and read my writings and
reference material, and even
1998, Black puts into perspective the
use of the Internet by the racialist hear my radio program which is W$i

movement: broadcast 24 hours-a-day 85


to the
four corners of the earth.
The Internet is a means of
planting seeds for the future. Experts are also concerned by
There are a lot of middle-class the use of carefully crafted child-
people who feel disaffected - friendly websites designed to recruit
and in Stormfront they can find young people into the racialist
what they can't in the mass movement. In just a two-year period,
media. It's about building a several groups have started websites
community and attracting hard explicitly tailored for youth users,
core supporters. including the World Church of the
Creator, Stormfront, Women for Aryan
Moreover, Black notes: Unity, and Mothers of the Movement.
By offering children's stories, video
The Net has provided us with games, music, comics, colouring
the opportunity to bring our books, crossword puzzles, and home
point of view to hundreds of school educational materials, all of
thousands of people who would which are designed from a white
never have otherwise nationalist perspective, the groups hope
subscribed to one of our to indoctrinate young minds into the
publications or otherwise been racialist movement. Gail Gans, a
in touch with any of our director at the Anti-Defamation
organisations.84 League, notes that the world-wide-web
provides greater access to young
Likewise, David Duke, who has been people: "It used to be, in order [for a
involved in the racialist movement for racialist group] to attract a kid,
more than 30 years, recognises somebody would have to mail stuff to
websites as a valuable tool in them or go to their neighbourhood.
furthering the white nationalist

«
Now a kid can sit at the computer and these sites were communities,
type in'Nazi.'"86 and that why the hate groups
have had a hard time increasing
Cvber-Racists Lack Community their numbers through their

Not everyone agrees with the


argument that websites are a successful In other words, Goldman argues that
tool in recruiting new members. For simply accessing a website does not
example, David Goldman and Chip make an individual a committed
Berlet suggest that websites have m e m b e r, o r e v e n e n c o u r a g e s
largely failed to bring in new members membership, rather the person
because they do not satisfy the becomes a member after finding a
psychological or social needs of the likeminded community and engages in
individual. The Intelligence Report direct communication with others,
notes, most notably the leadership.
[A] flashy site on the World
Wide Web is no guarantee that
people will continue to visit
your site to buy products - or
ideology. Students of the Net
have found that in order to
flourish, Web sites must create
a sense of community, a feeling
that you will find new ideas and
people who will engage your
mind and interests. Otherwise,
visitors may view a site on one
or two occasions, but find little
87
reason for returning regularly.
Above: David Duke (left) and Don Black.
Furthermore, Goldman argues:
This argument is not new.
As time went on, it became Goldman, in fact, questioned the value
clear that while the Internet of websites to the development of the
offered extremists certain racialist movement in 1998, just three
advantages, it was not going to years after the first hate-based website
be this fantasy of goodness that went online, noting "if you're an angry
they expected. It is difficult for white male you still need someone in
any organisation to get people your face to bring you into one of these
to come back and to participate groups, to talk with and make you an
in its web site, and to have a active member."
successful web site, you have to
create a community of users While discarding websites as
who do return. People want to insignificant, Goldman and Berlet
feel that there's a reason to argue that interactive forums (i.e.
come back to the site, new discussion boards and chat rooms), are
information or people that they essential in the recruitment process.
might encounter there. But Unlike that of static websites, Goldman
Klan and neo-Nazi group and Berlet argue interactive forums
members simply have not felt create an environment where like-
24

minded individuals can meet, exchange members of the hate groups,


viewpoints, learn about each other, and these venues allow a safe
wi$
decide to join a particular group. The exploration of extremist
Intelligence Report notes, ideology.... For people who are
members, discussion groups
There is a growing consensus have been likened to a virtual
of experts who study hate on cross-burning - a. kind of
the Web that the presence of hatefest in which participants
such sites is not nearly as reinforce one another's racist
91
important as another aspect of views.
the Internet - the more private,
text-based venues such as e- Goldman elaborates on the need for
mail, discussion groups, chat human contact, "Extremists need to be
rooms and the like. While many told that what they do is good and right
people still visit a hate site once and true. These interactive groups,
or twice, even the committed even more than the Web, let them feel
typically want to move on to hope, like they're participating in,92a
venues where real discussion community bigger than themselves/
takes place.90
This may be why many racialist
The crux of the argument is organisations, like that of the National
based on whether or not the mode of Alliance, have recently undertaken a
communication satisfies the needs of multifaceted approach to recruitment
the individual - that is, can the by augmenting website access with
individual engage in personal contact traditional means of propaganda
with others. Goldman and Berlet distribution (such as flyer drops),
contend that hate-based websites, by meetings, personal email messages,
nature, act in the same manner as chat room discussions, and access to
traditional flyers or brochures and racialist music.
simply offer information; although the
information can frequently be updated, Statistics Indicate Increased Access
the mode lacks intimacy. While it is to Information
true that websites have provided
unmitigated access to information, A close look at the numbers
which is considered the starting point indicates that websites provide greater
of group participation, they are access to hate-based material for
incapable of creating an environment potential participants. For example,
whereby potential members are since 27 March 1995, Black's website
welcomed into a community and has received more than 5 million
engage in group-oriented behaviour visitors with a (current) daily average
designed to reinforce a specific mode of nearly 5,500 users (in 1998, Black's
of thinking. In other words, human site received a daily average of 1,700
contact (along with intimacy and users). Even Stormfront's website for
sincerity) is essential to the creation children (supposedly created and
and maintenance of the group: maintained by Black's 11 year-old son,
Derek) has received more than 400,000
Chatters engage in direct, visitors since it came online. Marc
unmediated discussions that Lemire, Canada's equivalent to Black,
flesh out their pre-existing reports that his website (the
views. For those who are not Freedomsite) has had 10 million

(PM^
25

visitors since it went online in 1996 Although a conclusive study


and currently contains more than 2000 has not yet been conducted, we can
IP
pages of information. draw upon three working examples and
two preliminary test cases that offer
quantitative support to the assertion
that websites do have a significant
impact on the development of the far
right, in particular the recruitment
Above: Logo for the children's section of process. The first example is that of the
Don Black's white power website. now defunct Knights of Freedom
(KOF). This neo-Nazi group, based out
Certainly, traditional means of of a residence room at Wofford
outreach, such as flyer distribution that College in Spartanburg, South
reaches a limited number of potential Carolina, grew from relative obscurity
JP) members or the printing of a newsletter to international prominence in less than
at a substantial cost to the group in a year due, primarily, to its website.
question, cannot match the capabilities The KOF, which recruited members
PH of a website. Furthermore, the sheer online, grew from less than 15
number of hate-based websites in members in 1998 (in its pre-web
operation is, quite possibly, the best phase) to more than 600 newsletter
I IP indication that cyberspace plays a vital subscribers and 150 full-time members
role in the development of the racialist in 1999. Although the KOF attempted
movement. Currently, the Simon to hold a series of real-life meetings, it
Wiesenthal Centre has a database of primarily existed in cyberspace and its
pn
3000 hate-based websites93 in website operated as the main contact
operation and the Southern Poverty point with much of the communication
Law Centre tracked more than 300 being unidirectional (essentially top-
PPl 94
websites in 1999 alone down from the leadership to the
membership with little or no feedback).
But does all of this access mean In fact, much of the membership
greater membership levels? The learned about (and subsequently
L problem with assessing the impact of joined) the group (i.e. its mandate and
hate-based websites on the goals) because of its online presence.
development of the far right movement
is that a formal study has not been The second real-life example of
conducted that quantitatively measures the success of web-based recruitment is
the association between website access that of the Canadian Heritage Alliance
(and chat room use) and member (CHA), an anti-immigrant and white-
recruitment and retention. Gail Gans rights nationalist organisation based in
notes that it is difficult to verify the Kitchener, Ontario. The group, which
impact of the Internet, arguing, "the started off with only two members,
Net allows them to exaggerate their officially went online in November
numbers and gives them a sense of 2000 (the website was hosted by the
well-being. It allows them to hide what Freedomsite). By the end of the first
in fact may be a disintegrating month of operation, the group had
organisation. I don't think that they are more than 35 newsletters subscribers
actually growing, but the Internet gives and approximately 10 paying members
them a chance to proclaim to the world and, within a five-month period, the
that they are. ,95 group expanded to more than 130
pp
newsletter subscribers and members,
26

almost all of whom learned of the be a part of a larger racialist group)


that offered minimal information and
group's existence from its website. In
addition, the CHA access report from requested visitors to complete a survey.
December 13 through 20, 2000 (after It is important to note that knowledge
of the website amongst racialists was
just a month in operation), indicates
that the group had 63 novel clients spread by word-of-mouth via the
Internet (i.e. traditional methods were
accessing nearly 6,400 pages of
information. In fact, the online success not employed). During the test period
of the CHA made the leadership of a of 30 days, the website received more
rival racialist group jealous, prompting than 1,000 hits and of those who
an immediate response by the rival completed the survey, 87.5%
group to regain lost members. responded they would join the group,
75% responded that the group should
The third real-life example is not be entirely web-based (that
that of the Heritage Front, a racial interaction is essential), and 18.5% ^ a

separatist organisation based in reported that they had previous


Toronto with several chapters across involvement (i.e. membership) in the
Canada. In 1994, after it was larger racialist group. In addition,
discovered that a government agent many of those surveyed responded that
infiltrated the group, the Heritage Front they were frustrated by the lack of
suffered mass defections and was interactivity between members and the
reduced to less than 100 members from leadership. Demographic analysis
a high of approximately 600 a year reveals that, of those who answered the
earlier.96 Since 1996, the organisation survey, 12.5% were under the age of
has primarily used its website as a 20 years, 50% were between 20-29,
method of outreach and recruitment and 37.5% were above 30 years of age.
(using traditional methods of literature
distribution in an extremely limited Like that of the first test
manner), which has proven an website, the second test website was
invaluable tool for recruitment. For advertised by word-of-mouth via the
Internet. Over a two-month period, the
example, during a 30-day period in
website received more than 1,500 user
2000, the Heritage Front received more
than 20 requests for information hits, had approximately 60 frequently |.™*!B»

regarding membership, many from returning visitors (3 or more visits),


and more than 40 subscribers to a
young people in secondary school who
learned of the group via the world semi-regular, non-interactive, email-
wide-web. Wolfgang Droege, then based newsletter.
leader of the Heritage Front, stated in
an interview that the organisation The results of the preliminary
receives hundreds of inquiries a year tests and the real-life samples suggest
that the world-wide-web leads to
regarding membership as a result of its
website, indicating that the group does higher levels of initial involvement by
"■(M
a
i
not have the funds to produce a regular providing improved access to
newsletter. information, in particular to people
who may not have had access to
In 2000, two test cases were information due to legislative or
conducted to measure the impact of the geographic limitations (such as living
world-wide-web on the development of in a rural community). In the cases of
the far right movement. The first was the KOF, the CHA, and the Heritage
an impostor website (that purported to Front (post-1996), the majority of

1
27

members became aware of the should be recognised as a fluid and


organisation, and subsequently joined, complimentary process involving two
due to the organisation's online equally important phases.
presence (it was the website that
initially prompted interest). It is
important to note, however, that
membership retention is likely
dependent on a group's ability to create
a sense of community. The results of
I the survey appear consistent with that
of Goldman and Berlet, indicating that
long-term membership retention is
dependent upon the group's ability to
offer interactive forums that satisfies

r certain social and psychological needs.

However, counter to that of


Goldman and Berlet, websites (not
interactive forums), play the essential
role of creating awareness of the group
(in essence, fulfilling the role of
ideological advertising) and serves to
encourage the individual to seek
membership. That is, websites create
the initial interest that prompts further
exploration (and membership) by
offering ideological justification for
greater involvement. Lois Dauway, of
the United Methodist Board of Global
Ministries, notes, "it [the Internet]
provides anonymity and, at the same
time, a support base for individuals
who take the information, use it as
encouragement and act upon it."97 For
example, Benjamin Nathaniel Smith,
who went on a shooting spree in 1999,
p is thought to have been encouraged to
join the group, and subsequently
inspired to act in a violent manner, by

r the World Church of the Creator


website.

It is therefore imprudent to
assert that websites are categorically
"less important" than interactive
forums. Rather than understanding the
dynamics of recruitment and
participation as being influenced by
two distinct elements (the static
website and the interactive forum), it

r
28

SECTION 4. government perceived itself as a nation


incorporating the best characteristics of
From the KKK to the Heritage British society, especially that of
Front: The History of National religion, industry, and loyalty to the
Socialism in Canada monarchy.98 Most Western-European
immigrants settling in Canada during
Although Canada prides itself this period (including Jews from the
as being one of the most progressive United Kingdom) shared similar
countries with regards to attitudes and assimilated into the
multiculturalism and creating an largely Protestant population with very
inclusive society, its history is little resistance. In fact, many
nonetheless inundated with incidents of Canadians, including entire Protestant
anti-Semitism, racism, and congregations, responded positively to
xenophobia. Racist and anti-Semitic Jewish immigration by donating
PP^
organisations, although a social money and services to assist in their
problem largely ignored by mainstream settlement in Canada.
society, have an intriguing history in
Canada that dates back to the 1920s But goodwill towards the
with the formation of Ku Klux Klan newcomers soon dissipated with
chapters. By the late 1930s, National increased immigration. Between 1911
.m Socialist groups materialised across the and 1913, the number of Jewish
country and openly promoted the residents in Ontario cities nearly
implementation of racist and doubled, increasing from
PP5I xenophobic ideology into government approximately 18,000 to 32,000. By
policy and public life. Although these the 1920s this number increased to
organisations were banned during the 35,000." The difference was that much
Second World War, and many of the of the new Jewish population were

r key members imprisoned as a threat to


national security, National Socialism
and other forms of organised anti-
from Eastern Europe and, according to
the Protestant majority, were easily
identifiable as an outside group due to
Semitism made a strong comeback in their mannerisms, language, and dress.
the 1960s and 1970s with organisations Moreover, the new immigrants settled
such as the Edmunde Burke Society, en masse in urban areas, thus creating
WW
the Western Guard, the Nationalist large, non-Christian sections in
Party of Canada, the Canadian Nazi previously overwhelmingly Anglo-
Party, and the revived Ku Klux Klan. Protestant cities. As a result, the Jewish
fp While these groups had a limited immigrants were considered by much
membership and scope of influence, of the Canadian population as a danger
they directly led to the development of to Christian and British values and a
the Heritage Front, arguably Canada's threat to business:
largest and most significant neo-
National Socialist group, by serving as Incapable of assimilation into
a training ground for the group's the Gentile world, according to
leadership. conventional wisdom, they
were capable nevertheless of
PB The Foundation of Modern positing a constant economic
Organised Hate threat. This economic aspect of
European Antisemitism, more
IjSl From the middle to late than its explicit religious roots,
nineteenth century, the Canadian remained dominant (even if
29

latent) in the minds of many was not difficult to see every


Ontario Christians, especially Jew as a revolutionary, and
Protestants. It required only a Yiddish as the vehicle for the
fear of social and economic overthrow of Canadian society.
upheaval to bring it to the Consequently, the 1920s
n 100 abounded with unfavourable
surface.
newspaper comments
During this period, the Ku Klux stereotyping Jews as dangerous
Klan grew dramatically in the aliens flooding Canadian cities
Protestant sections of Canada, and gaining positions of
influence, while refusing to
primarily in Ontario and the Western
assimilate.101
provinces. In Saskatchewan alone, the
Ku Klux Klan had an estimated 40,000
members and chapters existed in The global socio-economic
several Ontario cities including impact of the Great Depression was
Toronto, Ottawa, Kingston, Sault Ste staggering and in Canada more them
Marie, and Belleville. The Ku Klux 20% of the labour force was
Klan also had a chapter in Montreal, unemployed (and conditions for all
due largely to that city's high non-Christian immigrants in Canada
concentration of English speaking became much worse). As a result of
Protestants. Although the Ku Klux massive unemployment and
Klan all but died-out by the 1930s, deteriorating social conditions,
fascist and National Socialist groups Canadians demanded immediate action
started to develop in the late 1930s (as from the government to alleviate the
a reaction to the high level of
unemployment of the Great
socio-economic crisis. However, when
it became obvious that the government
1
Depression) and soon took the place of administrations were incapable of
the struggling Ku Klux Klan. This remedying the crisis, many Canadians
trend towards politically sanctioned started to turn towards the radical
rightwing extremism and xenophobia, political alternatives of the extreme left
which reached its climax in the late or right. The ensuing crisis undermined
1930s, created an increasingly hostile the political stability of the nation and
environment for Jews in Canada. Not the traditional social and political order
was put in question. It was during this
only were Jews thought to be an
economic threat and a social nuisance, period that the fascist and National
they were now identified as the cause Socialist organisations (encouraged by
of the Bolshevik revolution and the rise nationalism and latent anti-Semitism)
of communism and, therefore, such as Goglus (a semi-fascist and
nationalist society founded by Adrien
perceived as a danger to the
continuance of the democratic Arcand and Joseph Menard), the
principles underlying Anglo-Canadian National Social Christian Party, the
society: Brownshirt Party, Deutscher Bund, and
the Toronto Swastika Club, became
Because Jews had been active prominent. The purpose of these
in European movements for organisations was to cleanse Canadian
social change, and Yiddish was society of all foreign (i.e. non-
so closely related to German, Christian) influence and to boycott
the language which Canadian Jewish business.
newspapers associated with
anarchism and Bolshevism, it

ftwrffai
30
.pP

Many Canadians started to look anti-Semitism preached by the


at other poUtical systems for fascists. Moreover, a new fear
solace and succour. This loss of of a massive wave of Jewish
faith was particularly immigration following
distressing to Protestants of Kristallnacht in Germany
British origin, who placed the (1938) aggravated traditional
concept of poUtical democracy anti-Jewish sentiments, and
at the root of their heritage. In anti-Semitic literature
general, an exceedingly continued to be distributed
suspicious and xenophobic throughout the province [of
mind set prevailed in much of Ontario] by the remnants of the
|P the country.... In response to fascist organizations and by
the crisis of the social order, groups such as the British-
some Canadians flirted with Israel foundation (which
PP fascism and socialism; others resurrected the Protocols).
developed an exaggerated fear Even into the war years, Jewish
of communism.102 businesses continued to
experience difficulties, and
Although there was support public contempt for Jews
from the Christian community continued in some quarters.
I IP regarding discriminatory business
I practices and employment restrictions Despite restrictions, the
extreme far rightwing persevered and
of foreigners, it was limited; and the
IP situation for many Jewish immigrants continued to operate, although in an
did not change until 1938 with extremely limited manner, throughout
1
Germany's annexation of Austria and the 1940s and into the 1950s.
the recognition that National Socialism
posed a threat to democratic society. The Nazi Phase
By 1939, fascist groups (like the
National Unity Party) were publicly The 1960s, however, marks the
denounced by the United Church of revitalisation of the far right in Canada.
Canada, labour groups, and the Royal During this period, and likely
Canadian Legion. The government also mirroring the developments in
started to take the rise of National extremist politics in the United States
Socialism and fascism seriously. such as the appearance of George
Declaring rightwing extremism and Lincoln Rockwell's American Nazi
■i National Socialism a threat to national Party, several rightwing and neo-
security, the Canadian government National Socialist groups, such as the
eventually interned more than 300 Edmunde Burke Society (EBS) and the
,Spl
fascist leaders and Nazi party members Canadian Nazi Party (CNP), entered
residing in Canada. the public realm and openly recruited
members.
PP However, even with renewed
support for immigrants and the banning The Nazi phase of the 1960s,
of fascist groups, antipathy towards plus the appearance of the
Jews continued well into the 1940s: Edmunde Burke Society, may
have been a shock to many
Discrediting local fascism, Canadians, but they were
Iflt^ however, did not necessarily simply a prelude of things to
entail casting into disrepute the come; in the 1970s and 1980s
31

there was a virtual explosion of argue that they had no choice but to do
104
right-wing activity, battle with the opposition."106

The Canadian Nazi Party was At a council meeting on


founded by John Beattie in 1965 and 23 February 1972, the leadership of the
IBS
remained in operation until 1978. EBS voted to change the name of the
During this period Beattie organised organisation to the Western Guard.
several neo-Nazi meetings in Toronto, Although the name change was largely
one of which ended in a riot with based upon the fact that many
protestors. Prominent members Canadians confused the EBS with that
included John Ross Taylor, Jacob of the US-based John Birch Society,
Prins, and Martin Weiche, all of whom Don Andrews did use it as an V^f)

would move on and become leaders of opportunity to further radicalise the


the far right movement and have an organisation towards a more explicitly
105
impact on the Heritage Front. pro-Christian and racialist platform. As
a result of the radicalisation, both
Although the Canadian Nazi Smith and Fromm, who voted against
Party left its mark on the far right the name change, left the organisation,
scene, the most significant racialist deciding that the more extremist
group to appear in Canada during the mandate was counterproductive given
1960s was the Edmunde Burke Society the current poUtical and social climate.
(EBS), a group self-described as a
militant and conservative activist Under Andrews' leadership, the
organisation. Established by Paul group focused its efforts on fighting
Fromm, Leigh Smith, and Don Zionism, Jewish groups, and Black
Andrews in 1967, the group grew to activists. From 1972 to 1976, the
over 1000 members by the early 1970s Western Guard attacked non-white
and successfully infiltrated, and
organised demonstrations against,
immigration via graffiti, a telephone
hotline, and a bookstore that sold racist
1
communist and radical leftwing groups and rightwing literature and, on
in Toronto. occasion, assaults. The organisation
even confronted social justice, pro-
Publicly, the EBS leadership Black, and leftwing poUtical groups on
denied any connection to racialism, the streets of Toronto. It was obvious
stating that the group was established that anti-communism (the theme that
to fight communism and preserve served as the foundation for the EBS)
democratic principles, but by die early was now a secondary concern under
1970s the racialist undertones of the Andrews' leadership. The Western
group became apparent as the Guard's newsletter, Straight Talk,
leadership made many negative defined the new mandate:
statements about Jews, effectively
linking them with the Bolshevism and The Western Guard is
the spread of communism. The EBS, dedicated to preserve and
although disavowing violence and promote the basic social and
radicalism in its earlier stages, also spiritual values of White
became increasingly hostile: "No doubt people. Under the symbol of
the Burkers, who saw themselves as the Celtic cross, we fight for
saviours of the Western world and the our Christian moral values, our
Christian, capitalist was of life, would European heritage, and the
32

spiritual and communism and Judaism as being


107 cultural rebirth of
our people. inseparable:

r In 1975, Andrews travelled


with Wolfgang Droege to the United
In Taylor's view, the only
legitimate position in the

r States to meet with a number of


American racial activists, including
David Duke of the Ku Klux Klan. The
movement was what he referred
to as "the hard line." That, in
essence, meant a no-holds
pn
purpose of the trip was to develop barred opposition to Jews. All
formal links with the American racist Jews, not just the leadership,
movement. Droege again traveUed to are potentiaUy dangerous; Anne
PP the United States in 1976 to meet with Frank's diary was a fake; the
Jessie Stoner, chairman of the National holocaust is a lie; a cure for
States Rights Party, and Dr. Ed Fields, cancer has been known for
publisher of an extreme rightwing years, but has been suppressed
magazine.108 During this period the by Jews.... And Moscow gets
Western Guard was seen as Canada's its orders from Canadian Jews,
109

r leading far right organisation.

But the good times for the


who control both countries

Taylor held many unorthodox

r Western Guard quickly came to an end.


In 1976, Andrews was arrested in
connection with a terrorist plot to
views, the most radical of which were
his conspiracy theories involving secret
world governments bent on the

r detonate a bomb at a soccer match destruction of white society. One


between Israel and Canada and charged theory outlined the creation of a
with attempted arson and the illegal massive computer that was operated by

r possession of firearms and explosives. a highly secret Jewish government


Fearing the worst, Andrews transferred (based in North America) in order to
control of the organisation to John track every citizen while another
Ross Taylor (who joined the group in involved a secret war between the
1973), officially resigning on 18 July Anglo-Freemasons (supported by the
1976. He was eventuaUy found guilty Britain) and the Jewish-Freemasons

r
and sentenced to two years in prison (supported by Russia and Canadian
and ordered to terminate all association Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau) for
with the Western Guard. global domination.110 Taylor also
beheved that a secret German army
The Taylor Era was training in a base hidden
underneath the North Pole for the
Taylor, born in 1913 to a eventual global race-war against
i*m
wealthy family, was a long-time Zionism and that white sugar made one
member of the far right. During the a homosexual.
Second World War, he spent 53
months in an internment camp in Although Taylor declared that
Petawawa, Ontario, for his the Western Guard only became a
involvement with the National significant political force under his
Socialist movement in Canada. In leadership, the group was actually in a
Andrews' absence, Taylor quickly state of decline since 1976. By 1978
moved to further radicaUse the Western most of the Western Guard
Guard to focus on fighting Zionism. membership left the organisation to
Taylor viewed the global spread of join Andrews' new group, the
33

NationaUst Party of Canada (the group 1994 in Edmonton, at the age of 81.
was originaUy named the National Shortly before his death, he publicly
Citizens' AlUance). In an attempt to declared that the government had
bolster membership numbers, Taylor engaged in a Ufelong campaign to
changed the name of the Western maUgn his reputation and force him
Guard to Western Guard Universal and from the rightwing movement. In an
continued to publish Straight Talk and obituary that appeared in the Heritage
Aryan. But the newsletters were short- Front's Up Front magazine, Taylor
Uved under Taylor's leadership and by was remembered as a "true gentleman"
1978 neither was published. and for his "lifelong dedication to the
cause."111 According to the article, the
Despite dwindling membership, Heritage Front, CFAR, Ernst Zundel's
Taylor pushed-on and started a Samisdat group, and the Nationalist
telephone hotline to disseminate his Party of Canada held a memorial for
grand anti-Semitic conspiracies. Taylor at his grave in Toronto.
However, the telephone hotline was
also short-Uved. On 22 August 1979, a The Nationalist Party of Canada
Human Rights Tribunal placed a
'cease-and-desist' order against the After his early release from
telephone hotline, which Taylor prison in 1977, Andrews promptly
started the National Citizens Alliance
ignored. In response, a federal court
convicted Taylor of contempt and
sentenced him to a year in jail and a
(changing the name to the Nationalist
Party of Canada in June 1977), which
1
$5,000 fine; an order that he also reportedly grew to more than 300
ignored. members and drew most of its
membership from the former Western
In June 1980 the federal court Guard. The Nationalist Party of
issued a warrant for Taylor's arrest. Canada, like that of many American-
After living underground for nearly a based National Socialist groups, was
year, Taylor finaUy surrendered in organised into cells of 5 to 7 members
1981. After serving 243 days in jail, (this was to avoid infiltration by
Taylor was released from prison in government agents). Similar to that of
March 1982. But it was too late to the Western Guard, the Nationalist
salvage the group. After 25 years in Party of Canada was built on an anti-
existence, the Edmunde Burke immigration, anti-Jewish, anti-
Society/Western Guard/Western Guard abortion, and pro-Christian, white-
Universal ceased operating. European heritage platform. The
difference between the EBS and the
Although Taylor eventually NationaUst Party of Canada was that
teamed-up with John Beattie to form the latter was far more intellectual and
the British People's League, many far sophisticated, most notably in its
right activists considered him too language and content in newsletters
unstable to be value to the movement and brochures. Although a few of its
and avoided contact with his new members painted racist slogan on
group. Taylor once again found buildings, the Nationalist Party of
Canada primarily concerned itself with
himself in trouble with the law. In
1990 he was sentenced to another year
in jail for operating a telephone hotline
writing letters to newspapers and
running for public office:
1
(but was released after 61 days). Alone
and poor, Taylor died in November
r 34

The NationaUst Party made an eight Americans, were arrested in New


Orleans by US government agents in

r
effort to contest various
elections. There never was any an early morning raid. Later, four more
delusion that its members Canadians would be arrested, including
would gain pubUc office. The Marion McGuire, James McQuirter,
purpose was to force the Charles Yanover, and Harold Woods.
electorate to confront 'the real All of the Canadians and Americans
issues facing Canada today, arrested were members of the far right
ppi
which the phony major parties with the exception of Yanover and
refuse to discuss - sensitive Woods. Yanover is a well-known
issues such as immigration, the mafia crime figure from Toronto while
future of racial composition of Woods was a psychiatric patient
this country and the powerful apparently in love with McQuire who
majority with anti-Canadians was arrested in Dominica when he
iss interests who control the tried to break McQuire out of prison.
finances and economy of In Dominica, Patrick John, the former
Canada.' The latter, obviously, Prime Minister, Major Fred Newton,
ipp^ was a reference to Jews. the commander of the army, three
Nationalist Party members were additional army officers, and two
candidates for the board112of civiUans (including Dennis Joseph, the
education and for alderman. former manager of the Dominican
broadcasting service) were arrested. In
By 1980, Andrews was total, more than 20 people were
ph frustrated with his local activists and convicted of conspiracy charges in
pushed for the development of a Canada, the US, and Dominica.
national rightwing organisation,

r holding several meetings with the The invasion, named Operation


leadership of the Canadian Ku Klux Red Dog by the mercenaries, was
Klan regarding amalgamation. The simple. The group of white
plan called for the membership of the supremacists and neo-Nazis planned to
Ku Klux Klan to join the Nationalist travel from New Orleans to Dominica
Party of Canada and drop the on a chartered boat, land on the island
controversial name. The former at night using rubber boats, meet up
leadership of the Ku Klux Klan, under with former Prime Minister John and
the new name of the NationaUst Party his guerrilla force of disgruntled army
of Canada, would be responsible for veterans and Rastafarian rebels, and
developing the group on an then lay waste to the police force and
international level while Andrews political leaders and install a junta
would be responsible for the government. Contrary to Stanley

r Nationalist Party of Canada in Ontario.


But talks failed and the plan to unify
the extreme rightwing in Canada
Barrett's analysis (1987), the primary
purpose of the invasion was not to
establish a base of operations for white
coUapse. supremacists (although this was a
secondary concern), but rather to set
Droege and Dominca: The US- up a series of lucrative businesses,
13
Canadian Extremist Connection including cocaine manufacturing
plants, casinos, hotels, brothels, and a
On 27 April 1981, two gunninning operation, and to exploit
Canadians, Wolfgang Walter Droege the country's labour and natural
and Larry Lloyd Jacklin, along with resources for the benefit of the
mercenaries and the financial backers. prominent Canadian racists James
Considering the size of Dominica, Alexander McQuirter and John Ross
which is only 300 square miles, and its Taylor and started to network with a
limited military and police force, the number of American racist leaders
coup was achievable. including David Duke, (Stephen) Don
Black, and Louis Beam. It was at the
One of the central figures of the congress that Droege decided to join
failed invasion was Wolfgang Droege. the Duke's Klan and it was also
Bom on 25 September 1949 in Droege who officially imported and
Forcheim, Germany, Droege moved to started the Ku Klux Klan in Toronto in
Canada in 1963. In 1967, Droege the late 1970s. McQuirter then joined a
moved back to Germany to join the few months later. Although McQuirter
military; unsuccessful, he returned to became the Grand Wizard of the
Canada a short time later, eventually Canadian Ku Klux Klan, the actual
leader of the group, according to
receiving Canadian citizenship in the
early 1970s. But it was in Germany several sources, was actually Droege.
that Droege's interest in the far right A source reported that McQuirter was
blossomed after attending meetings of given the role of leader simply due to
Adolf van Thadden's National Party."4 his "boyish good looks" and his
In 1974, Droege met Don Andrews in charming personality and that Droege
Toronto and, within a matter of weeks, controlled the organisation from
joined the Western Guard and within behind the scenes. "He looked good in
two years he was a significant force in the robes and he had media savvy,"
the North American racialist said the source. "But Wolfgang was
movement. McQuirter's intellectual superior, and
it was Droege who came up with all of
the plans."

In the spring of 1977, Droege


and Ann Ladas, another member of the
Western Guard, drove to Buffalo, New
York, to attend a Klan rally at which
Duke and Black were speaking. After
the rally, Droege convinced the two
Klan leaders to visit Toronto to stir-up
some media attention for the racialist
movement. Both men, who were
legally in Canada, stayed as Andrews'
houseguests and, within a day of their
arrival, organized a visit to Queen's
Above: Wolfgang Droege. Park to present a letter of protest
against new hate crime legislation to
In September 1976, Droege the Attorney General. Duke also made
attended the International Patriotic the most of his visit by appearing on
Congress in Metairie, Louisiana. The CITY-TY, a regional television station
event was sponsored by David Duke, in Toronto. For the NationaUst Party of
leader of the Knights of the Ku Klux Canada and the Ku Klux Klan, the visit
was an absolute success as the media
Klan, and was attended by leading
racists from around the world. At the attention provided national exposure,
conference, Droege met with
36

encouraging several people to join the organization for Caucasian-Americans.


raciaUst movement. Sources indicate that Droege was
integral in the planning and
W i t h t h e K l a n fi r m l y development of Duke's new group.

r
established in Toronto, Droege and
McQuirter decided to open a new It was during this period that
chapter in Vancouver (Droege was also Duke introduced Droege to Mike
acting as a representative of the Purdue, a long-time Klan member.
i Nationalist Party of Canada). At Purdue, a self-proclaimed mercenary,
Droege's request, Duke returned to outlined his plan to overthrow the
Canada in April of 1978 to officially government of Grenada and to set-up
open the Klan's west coast chapter. several lucrative businesses on the
During his visit, Duke spoke to new island. By the end of the meeting,
members and did several interviews, Droege was committed to the operation
once again providing the Klan with and offered his assistance and arranged
national media exposure. The Canadian a meeting. According to a source,
Ku Klux Klan was on a roU, and poUce while discussing the feasibiUty of the
and media reports indicated that it was operation with Droege and Andrews in
getting larger on the west coast. Toronto, Purdue decided to change the
target from Grenada to Dominica. As a

r With the success of the Klan, it


was not long before Droege and
McQuirter decided to break free of
result, Andrews withdrew from direct
involvement in the coup. However,
Andrews did arrange a meeting
Andrews' stagnating NPC. By the between Purdue and Martin Weiche, a
spring of 1979, the Klan opened a long-time rightwing leader from
public office in the Riverdale London, Ontario. Sources indicate that
neighbourhood of Toronto. Although Weiche invested approximately

F McQuirter declared the Klan to have


more than 2,000 members across
$10,000 in the invasion, but this has
never been substantiated. Although
Canada, poUce sources report that the Weiche pubUcly denies involvement in
Toronto membership peaked at 70 and the invasion, a source revealed that,
newsletter subscribers numbered about soon after meeting Purdue, he took an
200 115 extended vacation on the island, likely
to check the feasibility of the operation
In the summer of 1979, Duke and to perform preliminary
handed control of the Knights of the reconnaissance.
Ku Klux Klan over to Black, deciding
to take a less radical approach to the Following the meeting with
white nationalist movement. Droege Weiche, Andrews contacted Arnie
returned to Louisiana in September PoUi, a member of the Western Guard
1979 to assist Duke in his bid for state and the NPC and, unknown to the
senator. Although Droege remained a invasion organizers, an OPP informant.
PoUi was given $3,000 US to perform
f Klan organiser in Canada, he was also
committed to Duke's new approach
and offered assistance in developing a
reconnaissance with Roger Dermee,
also a member of the Western Guard,
more conservative political image on the island. Andrews also put Purdue
under the banner of the National in contact with Charles Yanover, a
Association for the Advancement of well-known organized crime figure in

r White People (NAAWP), which Duke Toronto. Yanover who was ecstatic
tried to market as a civil Uberties with the idea of setting up an island
government, provided Purdue with a captain and Vietnam veteran, and spun
$10,000 advance. In return for the a story of the CIA needing his boat for
investment, Yanover was given the a covert operation. Unconvinced,
right to set-up a gunrunning operation Howell informed the Bureau of
to smuggle weapons into South Africa Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF)
and Central America. Although of the supposed secret government
Andrews denies any direct operation. To make matters worse,
involvement in the mission, it has been Mcquirter contacted a reporter from
reported that he, too, visited Dominica CFTR Radio (in Toronto) in March
on several occasions and met with 1981 and informed him of the coup.
various business partners, eventually Sources indicate that McQuirter
buying into a coffee manufacturing intended to capitalize on the ensuing
business on the island. media coverage to build his public
image. Suffering an ethical dilemma
In the summer of 1980, Droege between an exclusive-story or allowing
traveUed to Dominica and spent nearly many people to die, the reporter,
two weeks on the island meeting with apparendy against the direction of his
several investors from Las Vegas. The superior at the radio station, contacted
investors, who were connected to the the police.
mafia, invited Droege to Las Vegas to
further discuss the invasion. After In April 1981, Yanover and an Wfl™;i

visiting the investors in late 1980, associate returned from a


Droege and Purdue returned to Las reconnaissance trip of the island to
Vegas in January 1981 to finalize the finaUse the operational plan in
Toronto. At the meeting it was decided
plan. At the meeting it was decided
that Droege would remain in Las that McGuire and Yanover would
Vegas while Purdue travelled to return to Dominica, just days prior to
Dominica to get John to sign a contract the coup, to meet with the invasion
that secured rmlitary participation in team after they landed on the beach.
the coup as well as assurances that aU McQuirter would also travel to
natural resources and development Dominica a few days in advance to
projects on the island would be handed organize local resistance with the
over to the mercenaries and the assistance of John and his military
investors. In return, Purdue promised leaders. The invasion force, which
John that he would be reinstated as included Droege, Purdue, Black and
Prime Minister. Under the agreement seven other Americans, would leave
with the business group from Las from New Orleans on Howell's boat
Vegas, the mercenaries would receive with all of the weapons and explosives
more than $8 milUon. By winter 1981, onboard.
Droege and Purdue secured more than
$100,000 in capital for the invasion. Just prior to the planned
invasion John was arrested by the
But things turned bad for white- Dominica poUce after his involvement
supremacist mercenaries. Just two in the coup was discovered, which
months before the invasion, the boat became international news. On behalf
captain that Duke arranged to ferry the of the mercenaries, the reporter from
mercenaries to Dominica suddenly CFTR called Prime Minister Charles in
backed-out. Purdue, dismayed at the Dominica and confirmed John's arrest.
loss, walked into a nearby marina and But Purdue was unfazed by the news
and simply told his associates that it
approached Mike HoweU, a local boat

/Hsjjj
was "too late to turn back," and that prison term while Yanover was
"too much time and money has been sentenced to 6 months. The other
invested in this mission to call it off mercenaries received sentences from a
year to three years. McQuirter.
however, was not charged until a year
On 26 April 1981, Droege and after the failed coup. Apparently,
Purdue met with three suppliers in McQuirter, thinking he was not
New Orleans. Unknown to the culpable of a criminal offence, openly
mercenaries, the three men were bragged about his involvement in the
undercover ATF agents. Purdue told coup to the media. McQuirter was
the undercover agents that the invasion eventually charged with, and convicted
would go ahead the next night and for of, conspiracy to overthrow a foreign
them to meet the mercenaries at a government fraud, and conspiracy to
predetermined location. On the night of commit murder (a charge related to
27 April 1981, the 10 mercenaries, McQuirter planning to kill his
accompanied by three undercover girlfriend's former common-law
government agents, met at a nearby husband) and received two years for
park, put the weapons and ammunition his involvement in the coup and five
in a van, and departed for the marina. more for murder conspiracy and
When they arrived, an emergency task counterfeiting (McQuirter remained in
force team from the FBI was waiting. prison until 1989). John was sentenced
With spotlights in their faces and to 12 years in prison. Polli, the police
surrounded by government agents with informant, and the CFTR reporter both
automatic weapons, the mercenaries escaped criminal prosecution.
were in absolute shock. Purdue and
Droege never thought that they would
get caught. The agents confiscated a
number of automatic weapons,
shotguns, rifles, handguns, dynamite,
over 5000 rounds of ammunition, and a
Nazi flag.

VSr' «.'=»■■* 'All i ,

Above: David Duke in the 1970s. Sources


indicate he played a vital organising role in
Above: Items confiscated by US authorities the failed invasion.
on 27 April 1981.
For the far right in Canada, the
Justice was not kind to the coup was devastating. With both
mercenaries. Droege, Purdue, and Droege and McQuirter in prison, Ann
Mcquire each received a three-year Farmer, Droege's girlfriend from
39

British Columbia, was made interim the late 1980s and early 1990s,
caretaker of the Klan. Farmer remained Andrews met with young skinheads at
in control of the group until Droege's restaurants in Toronto, bought them
release in 1983, but by the then it was food, and distributed racist literature in
too late as membership dwindled and an effort to convince them to join his
protests by community groups aU but
ran the group out of Canada. In the
group. For a short period of time
Andrews' technique was successful
and brought in nearly 50 skinheads;
]
end, McQuirter disappeared from the
rightwing movement, leaving but, with a lack of militant street action
Andrews' Nationalist Party of Canada and the estabUshment of more radical
as the dominant neo-National Socialist skinheads groups in the area, the
group in Canada. organisation again started to wane.

In the faU of 1998, nearly two The 1980s was also difficult
decades after the failed coup, Droege is period for the Ku Klux Klan in
equally committed to the racialist Canada. With Droege and McQuirter
cause. Recalling the invasion plan in prison, control of the organisation
while at a Heritage Front sponsored was handed over the Ann Farmer (the
racialist gathering in Kingston, Klan's provincial spokesperson in
Ontario, Droege argues that the British Columbia and Droege's former
objectives were achievable. "We had girlfriend). However, within a few
the men and the resources," he said, "It months, the Canadian Ku Klux Klan
was just unfortunate that we got soon lost the majority of its
caught." Putting a positive spin on the membership and remained inactive
experience, Droege asserts "But jail until Droege's release from prison and
wasn't that bad. It reaUy put American subsequent takeover in 1983.116 As one
society and the racial issue into of the leaders of the Canadian Ku Klux
perspective. Plus, it gave me an Klan, Droege attended the Aryan
opportunity to network with other Nations Congress in Hayden Lake,
raciaUst leaders, which reaUy helped Idaho, in 1983 and made contact with
me after I got out." several members of the American far
right movement, including Robert
1981-1989: The Decline Miles (Aryan Nations), and Robert
F%)
Mathews and Richard Scutari and was
From 1981 through 1989 the asked to join The Order, a terrorist
NPC went into decline with only offshoot of the Aryan Nations.
r^m
sporadic gestures of rightwing activity
from Andrews. Marc Lemire, now Droege, frustrated with the lack
director of the Heritage Front and close of urgency and commitment shown by
associate of Fromm, recaUs that the
1980s was dedicated to local initiatives
and that Andrews spent much of his
Canadian far right activists, packed his
bags and secretly returned to the
United States in 1984. Between 1984
1
time indoctrinating either economicaUy and 1985, Droege moved from state to I"M^

marginahzed or mentally unstable state, Uving for short periods in


people into his organisation. According Minnesota, Alabama, Louisiana, and
to Lemire, Andrews brought people CaUfornia. During his stay in the US,
into the movement who were easily
manipulated so that he could steal
Droege made contact with several
members of The Order, including its
]
money from them. In an attempt to leader Robert Mathews. (The Order is
further bolster membership numbers in also known as Bruders Schweigen or
40

the S/fe/if Brotherhood.) Although At his trial in Birmingham,


Droege is quiet on the subject, largely Droege was found guilty. Although
due to fears of criminal prosecution, he Droege's lawyer requested that he
does admit to being involved in the receive a 2-year sentence, requesting
group "on the periphery." But Droege the judge to "keep the offence in
ppfH
was more than just a minor player in proper perspective," he was given a
the ultra-radical organisation; in fact, hefty 13-year prison term.
he was a recruiter and an intelUgence- Commenting on the excessiveness of
the sentence, Droege claims that it was
operative for the group.117 According
to a source close to Droege, he actively poUtically influenced: "The National
coUected information for the planned Security Agency tried to pressure me
assassination of Morris Dees, Director into co-operating with them. They
of the Southern Poverty Law Centre. wanted me to give them profiles ...
The source also indicates that Droege [and] offered me a job and U.S.
was offered $2,500 US a month for his citizenship if I helped them... I told
efforts, but that he refused the money them I couldn't do it. There was just no
because he made more than $7,000 a way. But that meant
,120
they were going to
month selling drugs to racial activists. stick it to me.
_ It was a Ufestyle that appealed to his
sense of adventure: "I consider myself Ending up in the maximum-
•HI a little bit of a rebel in society. And, security prison in Lompoc, California,
like, I'm not content to have a nine-to- Droege once again made contact with
five job. I want to Uve a real Ufe. You members of the Aryan Brotherhood, a
know, I want excitement and adventure prison-based white power movement,
,118
in my life.' and continued his involvement with
L members of the Aryan Nations. While
However, Droege's in prison, Droege frequently received
underground lifestyle did not last long. letters from David Duke, Robert Miles,
In November 1985, federal agents and Tom Metzger (of the White \ryan

r
searched Droege as he boarded a plane Resistance). On 21 April 1989, nearly
in Huntsville, Alabama, and was found four years after his arrest, Droege was
to have in his possession a Teflon released from prison and, as a
condition of his probation, told not to

r
dagger and 125 grams of cocaine.
Droege was charged with three counts return to the United States.
of possession, one count of conspiracy
to distribute, and a weapons charge. When Droege returned to
Droege states: Canada he was once again treated like
a hero. In Toronto, Andrews held a
The Teflon knife was given to welcome home party for Droege that
me as a present by a movement was attended by more than a hundred
leader from North Carolina. He supporters, and it was at this party that
just gave it to me. I didn't want he was introduced to Grant Bistow, a
it. The cocaine... WeU, it was relatively new racial activist who was
like the Dominca case. I was fundamental in setting up the Heritage
l o o k i n g t o fi n a n c e t h e Front (Bristow's involvement in the far
movement. I'm not a user or right began in 1986).
anything. Our means are
limited, you know, and I was Several months later, and at
looking for other means to Andrews' urging, Droege accompanied
119
finance us, 17 members of the Nationalist Party of
Canada to Libya in September 1989 to Movement, and the National
celebrate Mu'mmar Qadhafi's Democratic Front from Maryland in
government. The contingent of NPC the United States.123
members included Droege, Max and
June French, Grant Bristow, James Frustrated by the lack of
Dawson, Nicola Polinuk (Andrews' direction offered by Andrews in the
common-law wife), Anne Ladas, Gerry preceding months, several NPC
Lincoln, and Wayne, Donna and John members on the Libyan excursion,
Elliot. According to Warren Kinsella, notably Grant Bristow, Gerry Lincoln.
Andrews' connections with the Libyan James Dawson, and Max French,
government, including sponsorship discussed establishing a more militant
funds sent to the NPC, dates back to organisation. Droege thought that this
1987 when a number of NPC members, was an excellent idea; in fact, he had
including Ian Verner Macdonald (a contemplated the establishment of a
former Canadian diplomat), attended a new, and much more radical, racial
peace conference in that country. In nationalist group since his release from
total, Qadhafi's government provided prison in the spring of 1989. According
two all-expenses paid trips for the to the 1994 SIRC (Security Intelligence
rightwing activists to Libya as well as Review Committee) government
funding for racialist activities including report, Droege was interested in setting
propaganda development and up a group that would "act as a lobby
distribution, the NPC receiving group to protect white rights." Initially,
approximately $700 in 1987 and Droege came up with the name of the
$1,000 in 1989.121 Other sources Society for the Preservation of White
indicate that the amount was as high as People for his group (likely following
$50,000. Regarding the controversial Duke's example of the National
funding from the Libyan government, Alliance for the Advancement of White
Andrews states: People), but by August 1989 he
changed his mind and selected the
In varying degrees varying White Heritage Foundation as the
elements of the white name for his new group.
nationalist movement will have
to agree on some sort of
participation with the Libyan.
It's very important not to be an
Archie Bunker-type bigot. That
is a losing philosophy. We want
to preserve our own Aryan
racial identity, and what we are
out to do is represent those who
want to preserve their own
racial identity too. 122
Above: Droege and Bristow in Malta en
The NPC, however, was not the route to Libya in 1989.
only rightwing group to be funded by
the Libyan government. According to Although Droege was serious
Kinsella, the Libyans provided about the idea of a militant white
financial assistance to the National nationalist organisation, it was not until
Front in the United Kingdom, the the return trip from Libya that the new
Canadian-based Aryan Resistance group actually materialised. During the
r 42

flight home, Droege noticed that the In interviews and in the group's
plane was scheduled to fly to Toronto Uterature, Droege and other members
via Chicago. According to his openly criticised third-world
probation agreement with US immigration and race mixing,
authorities, Droege was not allowed to identifying the Heritage Front not as a
19^
re-enter the United States. After first racist or redneck organisation, but
refusing to get off the plane, Droege rather as a group of intellectually-
passed through passport control and minded and socially concerned racial
was promptly arrested by federal nationaUsts dedicated to the creation of
officers. After two days of detainment, an all white national state:
Droege was escorted to the Canadian-
US border and released. Droege was [An] organization of ordinary
upset and immediately suspected Canadian men and women who
Andrews of planning the set-up. In are dedicated to the European
8S|
retaUation, Droege decided to leave the values and traditions upon
NPC and start the new racialist group. which this nation was originally
Within three weeks, and with the founded. We are average
assistance of Bristow, French, Dawson, citizens who have decided that
and Lincoln, the Heritage Front was ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! For
established. speaking out, we have been
smeared with some nasty
The Heritage Front labels. But we beUeve that the
majority of Canadians support

r The Heritage Front came into


existence on 25 September 1989, and
the group officially registered with the
the right of Euro-Canadians to
band together to form an
organization dedicated to the

r
Government of Ontario on 2 October preservation and promotion of
1989. IntelUgence reports indicate that European people.1 6
the Heritage Front was initially divided
into two wings: (1) a political wing for In an affidavit to the Federal Court,
lobbying government and supporting Droege further describes the Heritage
legal action and, (2) a direct action Front as a political advocacy group
wing for subversive and militant dedicated to racial separation,
^pb^
activity called the October 2nd combining an anti-immigrant mandate
Committee.124 By November 1989 the with that of non-violence:
Heritage Front leadership started to
recruit members (mostly from existing The goal of the new
far right organisations) and travelled to organization was to be an
Ottawa to unveil the organisation at a advocacy group for white
im^
meeting held by the Northern rights. Bristow and I felt that
Foundation, an Ottawa-based present immigration was
rightwing advocacy group with12ties to detrimental to the interests of
(R^ the white nationalist movement. 5 the country because it would
eventually turn Canada into a
Unlike that of other Canadian non-white nation. And with it,
far right groups, the Heritage Front was our institutions would be
open and explicit about its policies altered in such a way as to
regarding racial separation and its become unrecognisable to the
National SociaUst ideology, often using founding people. This would
the media as a tool to create awareness. lower the quality of life as we

$PSl
43

know it. We oppose equity From 1991 through 1994, the Heritage
hiring as we viewed it as Front focused on public and media
disadvantaging whites who are relations and encouraged television and
essentiaUy the founding people newspaper reporters to attend its
of this nation.... I am not a meetings, a tactic not normaUy used in
white supremacist. We are the Canadian far right. In short, Droege
racial nationaUsts whose established an unprecedented
eventual goal would be the relationship with the media in an
creation of an exclusively white attempt to usurp the efforts of law
state for those wishing to Uve in enforcement agencies and special
an area among their own kind. interest groups to demonise the
Our intention is to lobby legaUy Heritage Front as a coUection of
and pubUcly in achieving our rebeUious rednecks and racist fanatics.
goals without any violence. We The first pubUc meeting held by the
do not wish to dominate or Heritage Front was in Toronto in
subjugate any other race but we September 1991. At that meeting,
do beUeve that separation of the Bristow, Droege, and Fromm spoke to
races is our only way of more than 100 supporters and media
preserving our race which we representatives. Outside of the
beUeve to be the most unique meeting, a collection of Aboriginal,
127
on the face of the planet. Jewish, and anti-racist activists
demonstrated to show their soUdarity
From 1989 through 1991, the against the neo-National Socialists.
Heritage Front primarily operated The next day the Heritage Front
outside of the public realm, holding received national media exposure.
both private and semi-private meetings
for either longstanding members of the To augment the strategic move
far right or invited guests. Although it into mainstream society, the Heritage
was not a secret society, much of the Front pubUshed a series of brochures
Heritage Front membership (in the (many tailored to specific situations or 48| i

early stages) was comprised of issues), media releases, informational


members in good standing from other packages, and two main newsletters,
Canadian far right groups such as the Up Front (from 1991 through 1995) fff fl t
NPC, the Aryan Resistance Movement and the Heritage Front Report (from
(ARM), or Canadian chapters of 1996 to the present), that contains
American-based organisations such as highly intellectual propaganda on
the Aryan Nations and the National
Alliance. The reason for the selective
membership was to prevent infiltration
immigration policy, criminal issues,
government conspiracy against the
white race, social and political reform,
1
of the group by police or inteUigence and the white nationalist movement. In
agencies. addition, the Heritage Front started its
popular, but highly controversial,
It was not until after returning telephone hotline in 1991 and placed ffW

from a neo-Nazi rally held in Munich, Uterature and business cards in


Germany, in March 1990 (that was strategic high-traffic locations such as
sponsored by Toronto-based Holocaust the subway, bus stations, and / S ^

Revisionist Ernst Zundel) that Bristow secondary schools.


and Droege decided to develop a broad
based recruitment campaign and open
membership up to the general pubUc.
Tom and John Metzger (WAR), and
Paul Fromm speak at meetings. But
hosting such high-profile speakers at
Heritage Front meetings was not an
easy task. According to Kinsella. Tom
and John Metzger were illegally
smuggled into Canada by "armed
Heritage Front members" across the
border at Fort Erie on the night of 26
June 1992.129 On the next night the
Metzgers addressed more than 200
people at the Latvian Hall in Toronto
Above: Tom Metzger at a Heritage Front and received a rousing response. After
meeting in Toronto. Metzger was given a the meeting, the Metzgers were
standing ovation that included the Hitler arrested by an RCMP tactical unit and
salute from a group of young people
held in custody until they were
(background).
deported to the United States on 2 July
In just two years, the Heritage 1992, on the grounds that they entered
Front, due largely to its professional Canada to commit an indictable
white-nationalist approach and a offence (i.e. to promote hatred against
willingness to co-operate with the an identifiable group). In fact, the
media about its racial intentions, had Heritage Front smuggled other
reached a mainstream audience. speakers and racial activists into
Droege estimated that, by 1992, the Canada. For example, Sean Maguire, a
Heritage Front had over 2000 members member of the Aryan Nations, entered
and newsletter subscribers, growing Canada in 1991 and Dennis Mahon (of
from approximately 15 original WAR and the COTC) illegally entered
members in October 1989. Intelligence Canada twice (in 1992 and 1993).
sources indicate that, while the group's Mahon, a former security officer for
membership did grow steadily until the the COTC, was arrested and
summer of 1994, it was not as large as subsequently deported in 1993. It was
Droege suggests, and estimate the later revealed that Mahon had been
group have had less than 1000 working illegally in Canada for several
members at its peak. A former member months.
corroborates the intelligence source,
indicating that, at its peak in 1994, the From 1992 through 1994, the
Heritage Front only had 300 members Heritage Front focused on recruiting
and several hundred subscribers to its marginalized secondary school
newsletter. students in an urban setting, "seeking
to tap the frustrations of kids who
From 1990 through 1992 the faced dismal job prospects and were
Heritage Front sponsored meetings that willing to blame it all on immigrants
featured a number of high-profile and non-whites."1
speakers from groups such as Aryan
Nations, White Aryan Resistance [The Heritage Front] believed
(WAR), the Church of the Creator that the most fertile ground for
(COTC),128 ARM, NPC, and the members was in the schools.
American Knights of the KKK. For the The kids were facing racial
Heritage Front, it was not uncommon problems in the schools yet the
to have Ernst Zundel, David Irving, authorities and their parents
45

were out of touch with issues


which effected them such as
music and the clothing appealed to
them, and it seemed to pull in a lot of
i
equaUty hiring, affirmative young people who would not otherwise
action and violence in the join," the former member said.
schools. They felt alienated and However, the former member indicates
disenfranchised and felt no that the music has an indoctrination
voice spoke on their behalf. effect and it serves to encourage
Instead, a guilt trip was always feelings of racism in young people. "If
laid on them by the schools that they weren't a raciaUst before they
whites were responsible for all joined, they soon became one," said
the ills of the world. The the former member. "The music, and
schools tried to raise the self- the pressure of the group to conform,
esteem of the non-whites but forces one to become a racial activist;
the concerns of white students there is no escaping it, it becomes your
were never addressed. HF had Ufe." f^i

exceptional success in
attracting these young people. Although the recruitment
They would caU up the hotline campaign proved effective and
and after listening to several membership increased, things quickly
messages would leave their turned sour for Droege and the
names and addresses. At later Heritage Front. On 25 January 1993,
meetings, HF would attract up Droege and his supporters narrowly
to 200 people, mostiy young escaped an attack by anti-racist
people.13 protestors outside a human rights
hearing in Toronto. Although Droege
In conjunction with the and his supporters avoided a direct
confrontation, due largely to police

1
secondary school campaign, the
Heritage Front sponsored racist rock intervention, they did not escape the
concerts in cities across Ontario Canadian Human Rights Commission
including London, Kitchener, Ottawa, (CHRC). The court ordered Droege
and Toronto. The purpose of the and the Heritage Front to stop
concerts was not only to bring together broadcasting messages until the
racial activists from different groups tribunal ruled on the case, an order that
(such as Aryan Nations, White Aryan Droege ignored and shortly thereafter
Resistance, Church of the Creator, and he was charged with contempt. But in
the Northern Hammerskins) but also to October 1993 the contempt charge was
attract a new and younger generation dismissed on the grounds that the (SSf

of racist activists to the racialist messages were different than those in


movement. For the Heritage Front the original hearing; however, the court
leadership, racist rock music proved to
be an effective tool for the recruitment
of youth members. A former member
re-ordered Droege to stop using the
hotline. Droege again ignored the order
and, over the next three years, found
1
indicates that many young people himself in and out of court on three
involved in the Heritage Front did not separate contempt charges. By 1994,
necessarily become members due to a Droege's lawyer and the CHRC came
need to express racial sentiment, but to an agreement on the original
rather joined because of the complaint of exposing an identifiable
attractiveness of the skinhead group to hatred whereby the Heritage
movement (primarily the music) as a Front agreed to abide by the Canadian
counter-cultural movement. "The Human Rights Code. In the end, the
r 46

Surpeme Court of Canada ruled in ordered from speaking to all forms of


favour of Droege in March 1996 and media about any topic.
dismissed the outstanding contempt
In June 1994, Droege attended
charges.
a pubUc forum held by the Sergio
But Droege's telephone hotline Marchi, Canada's Immigration
was not his only brush with the legal Minister. Droege was again arrested
system. On 11 June 1993, more than for bail violations (associating with
200 anti-racist protestors converge on raciaUst members with whom he
Gary Schipper's house in east end attended the forum) and released on
Toronto.132 After the house was $2,000 bail. After being acquitted of
vandalised, Droege, along with Peter the bail violations in November 1994
Mitrevski and Chris Newhook, cruised and January 1995, Droege finally went
the Toronto streets looking for to court in February 1995 for the
revenge. Upon seeing a Heritage Front assault charge. The judge, although
member in a confrontation with anti- concluding that Droege was justified in
racist activists, Droege jumped out of his actions, decided that excessive
m his car to assist his beleaguered force was used in the attempted rescue
supporter. In the ensuring batde, of the Heritage Front member and, as a
Droege struck an anti-racist in the face result, found Droege guUty of the
with a large steel flashUght, breaking lesser charge of aggravated assault. At
the person's jaw. Newhook, following his sentencing hearing in March 1995,
Droege's lead, got out of the car with a Droege was given six months in jail,
S§^
baseball bat. The incident ultimately but was released (upon appeal) in April
led to Droege's arrest and him being on a $20,000 bond (Droege served 42
held for 6 days, finaUy being released days in jail). In January 1996, Droege
on $15,000 baU and on condition that was ordered to surrender to the court
he not associate with racialists and until his appeal was heard. On 26
refrain from organising and promoting March 1996, the court further reduced
raciaUst activities. Newhook was also Droege's conviction to that of common
charged with possession of a dangerous assault and time served. Finally, after
L weapon and released on $10,000 bail. three years of continuous court
In August 1993 Newhook was found appearances, Droege was a free man; at
guilty and sentenced to a year in least for the time being.
prison.
Violence between racists, anti-
In September 1993, Droege racist activists, and the poUce at
again found himself in court, this time Heritage Front meetings became the
for violating his bail conditions by norm by 1992. Some of the Heritage
consenting to a radio interview. Droege Front events that concluded in violence
spent 5 days in jail before being include: a meeting at Toronto City Hall
released on $5,000 bail and was on 24 September 1991; a protest on 29
ordered not to speak to the media about June 1992 at Queen's Park; a human
any issue related to racialism. But the rights hearing on 21 July 1992; a
seriousness of the court order did not protest at the courthouse in Toronto on
seem to have an impact on Droege. In 13 May 1993; an altercation on 3 June
December he was arrested once again 1993 in Kitchener; a protest at the
for giving two television interviews. Toronto courthouse on 26 June 1993;
ffpfy Held in jail for 10 days, Droege was and an attack by anti-racists on 22 June
released on $5,000 bail and was 1994.
30 minutes the racial activists exited
Of all the battles fought by the the building under heavy police escort.
anti-racists and the neo-National
Socialists, the most violent altercation However, the police permitted
occurred on 29 May 1993 in Ottawa. the neo-Nazi skinheads to leave the
That night, George Burdi (a rising star area unsupervised. The racists went to
in the Heritage Front and the Canadian the city centre and gathered on the
leader of the Church of the Creator) steps of Parliament Hill for impromptu
and his white power skinhead rock speeches by Droege and Burdi. Urged
band, RAHOWA, was scheduled to on by their racist leaders, the skinheads
perform at a Heritage Front sponsored ran down the street and confronted a
concert held at the Ottawa Boys and small group of anti-racist protestors. In
Girls Club. By 8:00 p.m. Droege, the ensuing chaos, demonstrators and
Burdi, and several other young racists bystanders were savagely beaten by the
were in the hall busily preparing for the neo-National Socialists:
concert while outside more than 500
anti-racist protestors gathered. [A]t precisely 11:40 p.m., an
animal roar filled the air and
the skinheads charged towards
their detractors, dodging
through traffic. "Holy shit!"
one police officer yelled. For
the next half-hour, anarchy
reigned along Elgin Street; in
places, blood covered the
sidewalks. In a matter of
seconds, groups of white
supremacist skinheads had
descended on the slower-
moving leftists. Some used
their feet and fists; some used
small Billy clubs they had
hidden in the folds of their
Above: George Burdi (left), lead singer of bomber jackets. As tourists and
RAHOWA and founder of Resistance partygoers looked on in horror,
Records. the neo-Nazis savagely beat
and kicked whoever got in their
Although local law way.133
enforcement received advanced
warning from Canadian Security The SIRC report recalls the event and
Intelligence Service (CSIS) regarding the consequences:
the event, the situation quickly
escalated out of control. Shortly after On May 29, 1993, an estimated
8:00 p.m. the protestors surge forward fi v e h u n d r e d a n t i - r a c i s t
and surrounded the building, throwing
supporters demonstrated
rocks and eggs at both the racist outside the Heritage Front
skinheads and the police. Frustrated recruitment concert in Ottawa.
and concerned, the police entered the The racist rock band,
hall at 10:00 p.m. and told the 60 to 70 RAHOWA, was playing to a
skinheads inside that the party was crowd of about 60 skinheads.
over and to pack-up and leave. Within
48

After the near-riot, four Front for nearly three months in the fall
Heritage Front members were of 1993. Hategan also testified that she
charged with assault. The eventually left the Heritage Front due
Heritage Front then became to the group's misogynistic attitudes.
more militant as Droege wished
to increase confrontations with Several months later the
his opponents. CSIS routinely Heritage Front finally hit rock bottom.
provided threat assessments to In August 1994 a government
SSfy
the police on the potential for employee leaked information to the
violence arising from media that suggested Grant Bristow,
confrontations between the the second-in-command and security
134
racists and anti-racists. chief of the Heritage Front, was a
government informant working for
The events of early summer CSIS.137 Bristow, according to the
9& 1993 were devastating for the Heritage 1994 SIRC report, was carefully placed
Front. With both Droege and Burdi in the far right in 1986 and that he
facing court proceedings, the Heritage infiltrated Andrews' NPC in 1988,
Front had little direction and which served as an entry point for the
leadership.135 A government employee greater racialist movement. As
identifies the significance of the events Droege's right-hand man, Bristow was
of 1993: given greater access to the far right and
was able to associate with several high-
Things were going very nicely level leaders. It was also revealed that
for these people for a long time. Bristow had provided Droege with the
But then, in the space of about start-up funds for the Heritage Front
three weeks, aU of their senior and that it was his skills and
members and leaders all got knowledge that lead to the harassment
ppn
charged. It is now reality-check campaign against anti-racist activists.
time for these guys. We know In an attempt to defray criticism,
from internal sources that they Droege testified at a government

r are in a state of total disarray.


For them, this is serious
stuff.136
hearing into the use of covert
operatives by CSIS arguing that it was
Bristow who was the actual leader of

r But the trouble for the Heritage


Front and its leadership was just
the group. However, Droege was not
judged to be a credible witness.

beginning. In July 1993, EUse Hategan, Not yet recovering from the
a young spokeswoman for the Heritage revelation of government infiltration,
Front, was charged with the promotion the Heritage Front was dealt yet
of hatred after she distributed posters another blow in late 1994 with the
that equated Blacks with apes. To resignation of Elizabeth Moore
avoid going to prison, Hategan (another young spokesperson), a
accepted an offer by the Crown to defection that resulted in the group
testify against the Heritage Front. In going into a two-year period of
her testimony, Hategan provided inactivity. Moore, who had joined the
evidence implicating Droege, Gary Heritage Front in late 1992 as a
Schipper, and Kenneth Barker in the secondary school student, became a
setting up and running of a racist public figure for the group, using her
telephone hotline. According to the writing and interpersonal skills to
article, Hategan spied on the Heritage recruit young people into the group.
Moore's involvement in the Heritage alleviated concerns of further
Front continued through late 1994 government infiltration (although it has
while an undergraduate student at left the group fragmented and without
Queen's University in Kingston: overall direction).

After high school she went to


Queen's University and
engaged in neo-Nazi agitation:
i n fi l t r a t i n g a n t i - r a c i s m
meetings, speaking at Front
rallies, putting up posters -
even slipping racist books onto
the library's shelves.138

But Moore decided to quit


Canada's largest far right organisation,
Above: Grant Bristow at a Heritage Front
indicating that the extent of
meeting.
government infiltration and the
increased use of violence by members
Even without Droege's direct
changed her mind about the neo-
National Socialist movement. In leadership, the various Heritage Front
chapters have engaged in public
January 1995, Moore contacted Bernie activities in an effort to renew the
Farber of the Canadian Jewish
organisation. The most active chapters
Congress and asked for assistance in include Halifax, Montreal, Kingston,
leaving the movement. and Niagara, all of which engage in
recruitment campaigns aimed at
Droege, however, did receive
some good news in 1994. In November bringing in young people. According to
a police source, the Heritage Front has
he ran in the municipal elections and
received 14% of the vote, the highest grown substantially in Kingston from
1998 through 2000 and that the chapter
vote given to a candidate running on a
has between 10 and 20 members. Louis
racist platform.
Morin, the Kingston chapter leader
(from 1995 to 2000), reports that he
By January 1995 the Heritage has "been single-handedly runriing the
Front appeared to be defunct. With show in Kingston for three years," and
much of its leadership in prison, in that he has spoken to more than 50
hiding, or revealed to be working for high school students about
the government or providing
information to anti-racist groups, the membership.
Heritage Front suffered mass Under New Management
defections and was reduced to less than
a hundred members. But against all
Just over a decade since the
odds, the group has survived, holding
several low-profile meetings and rock group's inception, Droege finally
concerts.139 In addition, the Heritage stepped down as leader of the Heritage
Front's website has also assisted in Front, being replaced by Lemire, his
sidekick and website administrator, on
reaching-out to young people while the 01 January 2001. Lemire has been
introduction of a cell structure
involved in the Heritage Front since
(basically dividing the organisation
into independent regional chapters) has approximately 1991 and quickly
became a leading figure in the
organisation due to his computer and want to be linked to an overtly racialist
Internet skills. group. In the end, Lemire (whom is
financially supported by Fromm)
But a cloud of mystery still became the leader of the Heritage
covers Droege's retirement from the Front (on 1 January 2001), thus giving
Heritage Front and the racialist Fromm indirect control of nearly the
movement altogether. While some entire racialist movement in Canada.
suggest that Droege wanted to move on But the change in leadership
with his life, an intelligence source
argues that he could no longer deal may not translate into increased
with the responsibilities of leadership Heritage Front activity or membership
because of his involvement in numbers as many in the racialist
underworld activities, and it appears as movement are unsure of Lemire's
though he may have been convinced to leadership abilities. In an effort to
leave the movement by some of his prove his detractors wrong, Lemire
closest racial associates. distributed literature in Hamilton,
Ontario, in February 2001 that warned
people about third-world immigration
and disease (the same brochure was
also distributed in Windsor). Lemire
also planned to have the Heritage Front
join the provincial Adopt-a-Road
programme, but was eventually refused
participation by the Ontario
government on the basis that the group
is "militantly pro-white" and
"contrary" to the Charter of Rights and
Freedoms. For the most part, Lemire
has failed to deliver on his promises of
widespread racialist activity, a mandate
Above: Paul Fromm has been involved in that included a revamped website and a
the far rightwing movement since 1967. In newsletter by the summer of 2001
recent years, he has gained a tremendous
amount of exposure via the mainstream (neither of which have been fulfilled).
media. After an initial period of excitement, it
appears as though many racial activists
Fromm and Lemire lend have lost faith in Lemire and the
credibility to this theory. In August Heritage Front is no longer Canada's
2000, both Fromm and Lemire premiere racialist organisation.
suggested that it was necessary for
Droege to retire from the far right Although the Heritage Front
because he was more interested in appears to be in a period of stagnation,
selling drugs for a Toronto motorcycle it is doubtful that the group will simply
gang and that the rightwing recognised fade-away, there seems to be too many
him as a liability. Fromm also people committed to keeping the
expressed an interest in expanding his organisation alive. Certainly, the only
racialist group to include younger way that the organisation can survive is
members by developing an association to recruit and maintain a core of young
between the Canada First Immigration racial activists committed to both
Reform Committee (CFIRC) and the intellectual endeavours and street level
Heritage Front. But Fromm still did not action. Both Lemire and Droege
indicate that, given the proper socio
economic conditions, which would be
an overall collapse of the Western
economy, the Heritage Front will
become the foremost political lobby in
Canada. The question is, will
mainstream Canadians ever resort to
extremist politics even if there is a
dramatic decline in the country's
financial well-being? For Lemire, the
answer is yes. "People are too lazy and
too well off for anything to change,"
says Lemire. "But once people start to
suffer the politics of multiculturalism
and the crushing consequences of poor
financial management by the Liberal
government, the movement will grow
and will be victorious. It may take 10,
20, or 30 years, but that's what we are
waiting for."

Above: Paul Fromm speaking at the


Holiday Inn in Kitchener.
■SSI

52

CHAPTER 5. with other likeminded racialists, and


attempting to recruit youth members. A
From Webmaster to Extremist former member of the Heritage Front
Leader: Is Marc Lemire the Next indicates that, during his early
Shining-star of the Radical Right? involvement, Lemire "didn't have
much of a role" in the group and that
Marc Lemire has been involved he primarily associated with a few
in the racial nationalist movement skinheads on the periphery of the
since the tender age of 17 when he movement. According to the source,
Lemire primarily associated with Elise
joined the Heritage Front in 1992.
Although Lemire's early involvement Hategan, Grant Bristow, and
141
was unimpressive and limited to the Droege.
occasional distribution of racialist
literature in the Toronto area, it did not By 1993, Lemire had made
aw take long for him to assume a central several contacts in the far right
role in the Canadian racial nationalist movement and gradually became more
movement. In just a few years, Lemire involved in the Heritage Front by
IP! moved from being a white power attending rallies, recruiting youth
outsider to the web-master of Canada's members, monitoring the activities of
anti-racists (in particular the
largest racialist website and, most
Klanbusters hotline), and writing
ffffl recently, to the national directorship of
the Heritage Front. However, the articles for Up Front, the main
question remains, does Lemire posses publication for the Heritage Front. In
fill} the leadership skills and reputation March 1993, Lemire wrote an article
necessary to lead a renewal of the entitled "Eco-Guard: What can you do
Heritage Front? to save the environment?" Although
simplistic (merely outlining ways to
In the Beginning recycle), the article did highlight the
Heritage Front's concern for the
Born in 1975, Marc Daniel environment, blaming the
Lemire joined the Heritage Front along environmental crisis on the
with some friends from secondary government's inability to take action
school in 1992 (a source indicates that against polluters. Lemire notes: "By
Lemire could have been involved in their [the government's] inaction, they
the Heritage Front as early as late are playing not only with our future,
1991). Contrary to media reports, but that of our children. Don't hold
jiSfh Lemire's involvement was not in your breath waiting for the government
response to the issue of employment to take action - take action on your
equity and the fear that he could not own. Join the Heritage Front's plan for
become a fireman, but rather that he a cleaner and greener planet." The
and his friends simply gravitated to the environment remains one of Lemire's
far rightwing out of curiosity and a central concerns and he considers it a
ipt
general dislike of Blacks and visible fundamental aspect of the racialist
minorities and, after making contact struggle.
with the Heritage Front, were
encouraged to become more involved Also in 1993, Lemire shared a
by Wolfgang Droege (then leader of house in Toronto with Phil Grech (21)
the Heritage Front). At first, Lemire's and Leslie Jasinski (25), both of whom
■p} activities were limited to distributing were members of the Heritage Front.
raciaUst propaganda, making contacts During this period, Lemire, Grech, and

sp}
Jasinski became close friends with Ken sword, a police scanner, ammunition, a
Barker (31), a Heritage Front member large amount of money, the disguise
living in Oshawa. After deciding that used in the robbery, and white
the Heritage Front lacked urgency, the nationalist literature. The next
friends decided to take action into their morning, police raided Lemire's house
own hands. Bill Dunphy notes: "All of in Toronto and arrested Grech. In the
them became disillusioned by Droege's end, Grech was sentenced to 18 months
emphasis on talk over action and they in prison for robbery and Barker was
began to pool ideas and resources." convicted of firearms storage offences.
Possibly basing their direct action Although Jasinski confessed to his
approach on the efforts of The Order, involvement in the first robbery during
the terrorist wing of the Aryan Nations, Barker's bail hearing, his statement
Jasinski and Barker entered an Oshawa was deemed inadmissible. However,
donut store on 27 September 1993 with Jasinksi was ordered not to own or
a sawed-off shotgun and robbed it of possess firearms, ammunition, or
$257. Nearly a month later, Grech explosives for the rest of his life.
entered an Oshawa Toronto-Dominion Lemire was never charged with a
bank on 21 October 1993 and managed criminal offence.
to grab nearly $2,000.
A Change of Direction

On 14 November 1993, Lemire


started a white nationalist telephone
hotline, called the Euro-Canadian
Action Line, which criticised
government immigration and
multiculturalism policies (the hotline
remained in operation until 03 June
1995).143 By early summer 1994,
Lemire, along with a few friends,
started the Euro-Canadian Alliance
(eventually changing the name to the
Canadian Patriots Network in
September 1994). After a brief hiatus
in the Canadian Military Reserves
during the summer, Lemire returned to
Toronto in September and started a
white nationalist bulletin board (on the
Above: Lemire during his election campaign Internet) with the help of Chris
in 1997. Saunders.144 Although the electronic
bulletin board only lasted for a few
However, Grech made the error months, the effort laid the foundation
of using his own car in the getaway, for the future development of the
and an alert bank employee took note Canadian white nationalist movement
of the licence plate number. Later that in cyberspace.
night, Oshawa police noticed Grech's
car parked at Barker's apartment Lemire was very busy in 1995.
(which was just a few blocks from the For example, he made an affidavit in
bank). In the ensuing raid, the police response to the Security Intelligence
found two shotguns, a crossbow, a Review Committee's report on the
|P*I

54

Heritage Front. In the affidavit, Lemire receiving numerous complaints.


denies teaching Wolfgang Droege to Pathway Communications (based in
m obtain information from telephone Toronto) eliminated all services to the
answering machines and that he feed Freedomsite, effectively shutting-down
the website on 28 June 1996. In a press
parts of speeches by Ernst Zundel onto
the answering machines of anti-racist release, Ashok Kalle, the owner of
activists. However, Lemire does admit Pathway Communications, said that he
to "monitoring" the Klanbuster was offended by the Freedomsite and

r answering machine (in late 1992 and


early 1993) by breaking into the
hotline and collecting the names of
promptly removed it.147 (During the
same period, Lemire attended a debate
held by the Metro Toronto City
Pi
anti-racist activists. Lemire also Council and protested a grant
admitted to being instructed by Grant application made by the Anti-Racist
Bristow to "pretend" that he was a Action to hold an anti-racism
BH} member of Klanbusters to get conference.)
additional information (such as
addresses) from the people who called Within days of getting shut
the hotline.145 Lemire admits to down in Toronto, Lemire moved his
collecting approximately 15 names website to Fairview Technology Centre
over a two-month period. (FTC) based in Oliver, British
pi}
Columbia. But life on the information
In April 1995, Lemire replaced superhighway did not get easier for
the original racial nationalist BBS with Lemire. After a month with FTC,
Digital Freedom. An article written by Bernard Klatt, the owner of the service
Mark Electric (possibly a pseudonym p r o v i d e r, r e c e i v e d n u m e r o u s
for Marc Lemire) in the September complaints regarding the Freedomsite.
1995 issue of Up Front refers to Uijal Dosanjh, the BC Attorney
Lemire as a "veteran HF activist" and General, even looked into whether the
boasts that Canadian racialism is Internet can be governed in order to
making great strides, in particular the restrict its use by racialist groups.
accessibility of raciaUst material via Klatt eventually responded to the
Lemire's two node BBS based in complaints through a media release,
Toronto.146 (It was during this period arguing that he only rents Internet
that Lemire became a father; his space to clients and that it is not his
girlfriend giving birth to a girl.) Shortly responsibility to act as a censor.
thereafter, Lemire pushed the envelope Lemire, angered by the attempts to
of electronic racialism and started the shutdown his website, simply stated,
Freedomsite (in January 1996), a "it's evolving into a big censorship
website that hosted several extremist debate in British Columbia. Censorship
,150
organisations including the Heritage is coming to a head in Canada.
Front, the Canadian Association for the
Freedom of Expression (CAFE), and In reaction, several of Klatt's
the Canadians for Foreign Aid Reform customers, including the local
(CFAR). Within a matter of months, newspaper and school board, decided
the Freedomsite contained numerous to cancel their contracts and take their
#pp}
pages of text as well as pictures and business elsewhere. Klatt, however, did
graphics. not yield to the pressure and continued
to offer web-space to the Freedomsite.
But the Freedomsite's time on
the Internet was limited. After
55

For Oliver, the entire ordeal brainwashed." Although cost-reduction


was a public relations nightmare and, was a key feature of his campaign,
as a result of Klatt's refusal to remove Lemire also suggested a mandate of
the racist websites, the small town was increased security. In his brochure,
subsequently labelled the "hate capital Lemire argues that specially trained
of Canada. ,151
fsa
However, the "people" would act as hall monitors. In
controversy finally came to an end on addition to having self-defence
04 May of 1998 after BC Tel training, Lemire's security personnel
disconnected Klatt's Internet access. would have the latest communications
Lemire immediately transferred his equipment so that, in the case of
website to the US-based World-Wide emergencies, a substantial number of
Internet Publishing Company. Adding staff members may be instantly
to Lemire's misfortune, Toronto's mobilised.
Interlog Internet terminated his email
account on 20 May 1998, arguing that Although he lost the election,
Lemire (at the time employed by Ernst Lemire did succeed in gaining 12% of
Zundel, a Toronto-based Holocaust the votes (2,285 votes). In comparison,
denier) used the email service to Paul Fromm, who ran for school
communicate material that advocates trustee in Mississauga, received 10%
or promotes genocide or incites hatred of the vote (827 votes). According to
against identifiable groups. David Lethbridge, the relative success

Mainstreaming the Far Riehtwing


of the far right in the municipal
elections indicates a growing 1
acceptance of a radical poUtical agenda
In the fall of 1996, Lemire by mainstream Canadians:
attended St. Clair College in Windsor.
What these figures indicate is
However, Lemire's attempt at post-
that the extreme-right is having
secondary education was short-lived,
and he dropped-out after only one real success in reaching out to
term, saying that he found college [a] large number people, and
that they are being equally
boring and pointless.
successful in mainstreaming
their ideology. Much like the
Nearly a year after dropping out
of college, Lemire ran for Board Reform Party at another level,
Trustee in Toronto in the 1997 fall reactionaries and fascists are
election. Lemire campaigned to keep forcing the debate and
consensus on social policy even
politics out of the classroom, to make
schools safe from "hoodlums and further to the right.152
punks," and to legislate mandatory
health screening for all new students. Lemire spent much of 1998 and 1
In his election brochure, Lemire 1999 traveUing with Paul Fromm,
complained about the cost of assisting at meetings, acting as
multiculturalism, employment equity, videographer, and helping with a
and gay and lesbian education and number of court cases (in particular the
activities, referring to the expenses as a tribunal hearings of Ernst Zundel and
"waste" and noting, "special interest Doug CoUins). In addition, Lemire
groups and their backroom political travelled with Fromm to assist in
bosses have seized control of our holding fundraisers for Collins,
future" and that "our children go to including events held on 3 June 1999
school to learn, not to be in Prince George and 5 June 1999 in
PW

56

Saanich. Later that year, Lemire In addition, Lemire was affiliated with
returned to British Columbia with a web-based group called the White
Fromm for a meeting on 10 September Power Syndicate, which involved a
1999 in Prince George (to protest series of interlinked websites from
Chinese refugees) and a meeting held across North America and included a
•in section caUed the White Power Porno
by the Canada Free Speech League at
the Vancouver Public Library on 30 Pages}55 But the White Power
September 1999. Syndicate was short lived and the site
was closed-down after the group
But not everything went weU received a number of complaints from
for Lemire. Over a three-week period movement leaders.
SB) in the summer of 1991, the Freedomsite
was attacked by a series of email- More Errors
bombs, effectively denying service to
the website. According to Lemire, the Lemire had many contacts in
attack started on 19 June 1999 and the American racialist movement and
lasted for 18 days, originating from the frequently travelled to the United

r International Association of Directors States to attend meetings. After visiting


of Law Enforcement Standards and David Duke at his home in early March
Training (IADLEST).153 2000, Lemire attempted to return to
Canada with a carload of Duke's new
In late 1999, Lemire became book, My Awakening. However,
customs officials (alerted to the plan to
good friends with Raphael Bergmann,
the former leader of the London-based smuggle the books into Canada at the
Northern Alliance. By early 2000, Windsor border) searched Lemire's car
Lemire was playing a central role in and confiscated the books. According
the development of Bergmann's to Droege, the plan was to sell the
fflpff
"Straightpride" campaign, helping to autographed books at racialist meetings
develop the website and travelling to in Canada. Lemire again returned to
London for a CAFE meeting at the the US in May 2000 to attend a
London Public Library to discuss free conference by the Institute for
speech issues with local racialists. Historical Review (at which he assisted
Lemire also made an appearance in with a Uve Internet broadcast of the

r London on 19 July 2000 to videotape


Bergmann's attempt to disrupt the
annual gay pride parade. The event,
event) and in September 2000 to attend
David Irving' s conference in
Cincinnati. (Irving's 2001 conference
however, was a bust for the racialists. in Cincinnati featured Doug Christie as
Not only did the media pay Uttle a speaker.)
attention to Bergmann, the heavy rain
p^ also damaged Lemire's camera and After returning from the US in
destroyed the videotape. May 2000, Lemire again found himself
in trouble. According to a close friend,
However, Lemire's Lemire (who was Uving in subsidised
involvement in developing websites for housing in Toronto) smashed a beer
the far rightwing was not limited to bottle over a neighbour's head after a
Bergmann and Fromm. During the heated argument. Although he was not
winter of 2000, Lemire assisted in charge with assault, the source
setting-up the "Right Turn for Nova indicates that Lemire was evicted from
Scotia" website, which acted •as a his apartment.
i 154
directory for far rightwing material.
Lemire also spent the summer election in the fall of 2000, the
of 2000 battling Warren Kinsella, a Canadian Alliance purged it ranks of
Liberal Party advisor and author of an the far right element, terminating the
expose on the Canadian far rightwing memberships of Lemire, Christie,
movement. According to Lemire, Fromm, and Hugh Pendergast. Craig
contacts in the Canadian Alliance Reade, president of the Centre-
asked him and Fromm to build a file in Rosedale riding association, sent a
order to damage Kinsella's reputation. letter to Lemire (dated 16 October
Lemire also used material posted by 2000) requesting that he "voluntarily
the Canadian Alliance (a series of remove" himself from the party. The
articles entitled "Spinning Warren's letter further states: "Freedom of
Web") on the Freedomsite. Doug speech does not cover bigotry, hate or
Collins and Fromm also got into the act racism.... The party does not support
and wrote articles criticising Kinsella. racists."157 In response, a disgruntled
Lemire wrote:

Has the Canadian Alliance now


gone down that slippery slope
towards censorship and
repression of its members,
and... will this repression
follow in the laws they may
propose? These are important
questions. I would like to know,
and I am sure my circle of
friends across Canada who are
spending massive amounts of
their own time supporting the
Canadian would also like to
158
know the answers.

Above: Lemire in the Army Reserves. Leadership Roles

However, the influence of the Although Lemire assumed a


far right on the Canadian Alliance did minor leadership role in the extremist
not become public until the summer of movement since 1994, mostly
2001 when Jonathan Gatehouse, a involving cyber-racialism or acting as a
reporter from the National Post, began contact point for Droege and Fromm,
to ask questions. Lemire offered a curt his involvement deepened
and ambiguous response: "As for if we tremendously on 6 October 2000. After
were approached by people in the a C-FAR meeting in Kitchener, Lemire
Canadian Alliance to give them met Melissa Guille, a student at Wilfrid
information on Kinsella... Well that's Laurier University and a leader of the
between us and them."156 According to Canadian Heritage Alliance. Lemire
the article, Leon Benoit admitted to immediately took interest in Guille's
meeting with Fromm and Lemire over attempt to create a youth-oriented
a two-year period to discuss a variety nationalist organisation. Within a
of issues, especially immigration. week, Lemire was offering his view on
the organisation's policies, structure,
Soon after, Lemire suffered and long-term objectives, and
another setback. Prior to the federal
58
IPI

eventually assumed a leading advisory local residents and that they distributed
159 over 6,000 flyers. Lemire writes:
role in the group.

In late October, Lemire The event was very successful


returned with Droege and several and the reception we received
SB)
others from a conference in Russia on from Hamilton residents is very
foreign aid and global investment and encouraging. Everyone we
he immediately set to work on spoke to was very supportive
developing the CHA.160 Within two and one eager resident, who
weeks (mid-November 2000), a CHA Uves down the street from
website was posted on the Freedomsite Henderson Hospital,
HP)
and Lemire was directing interested far immediately reached into his
rightwing enthusiasts to contact the pocket and gave us a donation
organisation for membership on the spot to help continue our
i 162
Pi) information. work.
L
According to GuiUe, the However, intelUgence sources indicate
iiP} success of the CHA made Lemire that most residents ignored Lemire and
jealous. In response, Lemire negotiated his group of skinheads and that they
for control of the ailing Heritage Front resorted to leaving flyers in a few
PfPI and assumed the position of national mailboxes.163
director on 01 January 2001. On 15
January 2001, the Heritage Front sent As far as the movement was
out an email message to supporters concerned, the Heritage Front was on a
stating that the group is "alive and roll. Even Gerry Lincoln, one of the
well" and that it is "undergoing some founders of the HF, came out of
major structural changes and updating retirement to laud Lemire's efforts. In
to respond to threats our people face in an article entitled "Keepin' it real,"
the twenty-first century." Surprisingly, Lincoln notes that Lemire was a
the message states that the long "munchkin" when he joined the HF,
moribund group will be starting an but that he "proved his dedication by
online newsletter, re-publishing the HF filling in wherever and whenever
Report, printing new Heritage Front t- needed," effectively earning "his
shirts, and holding public meetings. It stripes."
appeared as though, after several years
of neglect, that the Heritage Front was Since receiving accolades from
on
making a comeback. Lincoln, Lemire has done very little
with the Heritage Front. The promise
Lemire's first official public of new publications and public
$gfy
activity as leader of the HF involved a meetings has gone unfulfilled, and
Uterature drop in Hamilton. On while the HF is currently revising its
Saturday, 10 February 2001, Lemire website, it appears that it may take
WSfi
arrived alone at Hamilton's Henderson several months before it is actually
Hospital at approximately 1:00 PM. online.164 Over a 12-month period, the
After waiting an hour, a large group of Heritage Front has posted only a
skinheads arrived to help distribute a handful of new messages.
flyer claiming, "immigration can kill
you."161 On his website, Lemire boasts In fact, Lemire has failed to
pip!) that his group was well received by revitalise the group and has suffered a
series of setbacks since the Hamilton
protest. For example, in March it was and time of the meeting after Guille
discovered that Lemire plagiarised the posted the details on the Freedomsite's
Canadian World Domination (CWD) message board. Lemire also claimed
website, which is a satirical website (on his website) that a number of anti-
run by two students at the University of racist activists entered the room and, in
Waterloo. According to John Martz the process, injured several people. As
and Claire Kerr, the operators of the proof, Lemire posts a photo of a
CWD website, Lemire stole the site person's leg, claiming that the puncture
layout and graphics, including the main marks (just below the back of the knee)
logo.165 In a press release, the CWD were the result of the individual being
states: "Images, source code and in bit by an activist. According to
particular, a logo copyrighted by the witnesses, only one anti-racist activist
graphic designers" are now being used entered the room and that the damage
on Lemire's website.166 Ignoring to the room was, in fact, staged by
requests for an explanation and an racial activists to gain publicity and
apology, Lemire simply added a small public sympathy. Furthermore, police
note to the bottom of the Freedomsite indicate that no injuries were reported
page indicating that his website is as a result of the protest.
inspired by the CWD website.
Lemire's latest setback came in
the summer of 2001 when he received
a letter from the Ministry of
Transportation (Ontario) rejecting the
Heritage Front's request to participate
in the provincial adopt-a-road
programme.

Conclusion

Considering his track record of


successive failures, it is unlikely that
Lemire will be able to revive the
beleaguered Heritage Front. In his first
year as national director, Lemire has
accomplished very little and has,
according to intelligence sources,
alienated himself from the rest of the
movement (which appears to be more
youthful and action-oriented) for his
Above: According to a witness, the damage lack of enthusiasm in recent months. In
in the hotel room was staged in order to gain addition, Lemire is rumoured to be
public sympathy. attending college (living in Hamilton)
and, as a result of the course load, is
Lemire (along with Fromm and neglecting his responsibilities as the
Guille) suffered an embarrassing leader of the Heritage Front. As to
setback in Kitchener on 23 March 2001 whether he will be able to bring the
when anti-racist activists disrupted a Canadian far rightwing together, the
meeting co-hosted by Canadians for chances are slim. Over the past few
Foreign Aid Reform (C-FAR) and the years, Lemire's reputation has suffered
CHA. It was later discovered that the serious harm (most notably from the
anti-racist activists confirmed the place
60
mm)

White Power Porno Pages) and many


group leaders have questioned both his
r approach and maturity. There is no
doubt that Lemire has computer know-
how, but his lack of leadership skiUs
and street-level presence will continue
to hinder his involvement in the far
right. In a recent newsletter, the Anti-
Racist Action states: "It remains to be
seen how effective this switch will be,
as Lemire, like most 'Internet
§■1
} warriors', has Uttle charisma and no
street credibility with the more
militant, fascist youth scene."
Certainly, Lemire has shown that he is
not as effective a leader as Wolfgang
Droege, George Burdi, or even Paul
flip
Fromm; even close associates, such as
Bill Livingston (leader of HF Niagara),
Bud GaUant (WCOTC leader from
Brantford) and MeUssa Guille, have
questioned Lemire's abiUties.
However, only time will tell; but his
track record to-date indicates that he is
far better a web-master than the public
leader of the Heritage Front.167

r
HP

i p

■pi
61

CHAPTER 6. including dedicated recruitment of


youth into the neo-Nazi skinhead
IP
The Neo-Nazi Skinhead Movement movement.
in Southwest Ontario
At present there are several
P^
Although the mid-1990s (1995 racist skinhead organisations operating
to 1997) saw a general decline in the in the Southwest Ontario region that
number of neo-Nazi skinhead groups have shown a propensity for building a
operating in the Toronto-Windsor united movement. They include: (1)
corridor, likely attributed to the arrest The Toronto Skinheads, (2) Blood and
of several skinhead leaders including Honour (reported to be active in
P?|
George Burdi (leader of the World Toronto and Montreal), (3) the Tri-City
Church of the Creator) and the coUapse S k i n s ( K i t c h e n e r - Wa t e r l o o -
of the Heritage Front, at least five main Cambridge), (4) Canadian Ethnic
racial skinhead groups are now Cleansing Team, and (5) the World
operating in the Southwest Ontario Church of the Creator.
region. Moreover, it appears that
JP these groups are working towards a
"United Front" and are currently
sharing resources and skills to have a
greater impact on society. Since the
summer of 2000, this interconnectivity
between groups has resulted in
increased membership levels as weU as Above: A logo depicting the racist nature of
public and semi-public activities such the Canadian skinhead movement.
as racist rock concerts, fundraisers for
incarcerated members, leafleting, In addition, there are at least
■P
vandalism and graffiti, and physical four other formal racist skinhead
assaults and confrontations. groups operating in the region (i.e. the
Polska Skins in Toronto, Canada's
The concern of anti-racist Own Hooligans in the London area,
activists and law enforcement agencies White Power Youth Crew from
is that this united front wiU not only Kitchener-Waterloo, and the
jpw
lead to a formal association between Arrowcross Skins from the Newmarket
skinhead groups in Ontario, but will area) and three informal skinhead
lead to a confederacy of skinhead groups operating in the Hamilton,
groups across North America that will, Brantford, and London areas. While
in time, include European skinhead the Hamilton and Brantford skinheads
groups. This process of building a appear to be connected to the Heritage
union between groups started as Front, the London skinheads are
recently as May 2001 when a skinhead largely made up of members from the
group based in Ontario aligned itself Northern AUiance. It is also reported
pP} with the US-based National Skinhead that the London skinheads have links
Front. In particular, anti-racist to the Church of the Creator and other
organisations and law enforcement US-based organisations including the
agencies are concerned that this formal American Knights of the Ku Klux
alignment will provide local skinhead Klan. Although not originally a racist
organisations with funding and other skinhead group, reports indicate that
resources that will lead to increased the Royal City Skins (from Guelph)
levels of hate-motivated activities have started to develop links with
62 1
formal neo-Nazi skinhead groups such It should also be pointed out that
as the Tri-City Skins and the Toronto several of the skinheads at the protest
carried weapons, including knives, as fWJSJE

Skinheads. (See Table 2 for a Ust of far


rightwing groups operating in they intended to confront those
Southwest Ontario.) attending the nearby Gay Pride march
on Church Street. A week after the
The Toronto Skinheads protest, two representatives of the
Toronto Skinheads (along with
From the assertions made in its members of the CECT) were present at
website (torontoskinheads.com and a Canadian Association for the
torontoskins.com), it appears as though Freedom of Expression (CAFE)
the Toronto Skinheads is one of the
largest neo-Nazi skinhead groups
meeting in the west-end of Toronto.
There are also indications members of
the Toronto Skinheads may have been
1
operating in Ontario.169 As of June
involved in an assault on a Black man
2001, the group claims to have
chapters in several Ontario cities riding a bus in Toronto in April 2000
and a series of assaults on anti-racist
including Toronto, Windsor, Bradford,
activists near the Parkdale area of
Brantford, Niagara FaUs, Sarnia,
Toronto.
Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo,
Hamilton, Ottawa, London, Mid
The Toronto Skinheads' web
OakviUe; but there are no statistics
regarding membership numbers and page contains several items that may
whether chapters are any larger than a breach the Canadian Criminal Code.
few people.1 ° For example, one graphic has a Black

However, it has been reported


man lying on the ground after being
beaten, the caption reading: "In order 1
for my race to survive, yours must
by a variety of sources that the Toronto
Skinheads is in direct contact with the die!" Another smaU photo of a monkey
Canadian Ethnic Cleansing Team is placed next to the first photo with
the caption: "Get the apes out of our
(CECT), the Canadian Heritage
Alliance (CHA), and the Heritage schools bring back segregation! Hail to
Front (HF), and that this that brother." The web page also
declares: "The Toronto Skinheads
interconnectivity may have artificially
bolstered group membership numbers. don't make any claim to be the friends
Recent information indicates that the of the public."
group has approximately 10 to 15
formal and informal members. The Toronto Skinheads also
posted an article that identified a four-
According to one of the year action plan involving both "above
executive members of the CHA, the
Toronto Skinheads planned to
ground" and underground activities.
The web page states: 1
participate in the January 2001 protest
of the same-sex marriages in Toronto. The kinds of above-ground
In addition, five members associated "activism" we want our people
with the Toronto Skinheads, along with in the next few years involve
members of the HF, were present at forcing the government to
either destroy itself, or destroy
Raphael Bergmann's Straight Pride so many others that Neo-
protest in June 2000 at Queen's Park in Holocaust Survivors take up
Toronto. At that event, approximately
10 racist skinheads were in attendance. bombs a' plenty against it....
63

Below-ground... ANY action Skinhead Front chapter in


that might lead the average Ontario and, later on, hopefully
sheeple to conclude "their other Canadian provinces. The
National Skinhead Front is now
government" may have enraged
so many that it is no longer a worldwide organization with
capable of protecting them." chapters in most U.S. states,
European countries and
The Toronto Skinheads have AustraUa. The motive behind
PP
also been linked to a number of the estabUshment of an Ontario
N.S.F. chapter is to unite,
meetings held in pubs in Toronto. In
February 2001, for example, organize and strengthen the
skinhead scene.
IP approximately 20 racist skinheads met
at the Gladstone Pub before anti-racist
activists and police arrived. Reports The website (wpcect.com)

r indicate that the group (along with


members of the CECT) regularly meet
further states, "the time has come to
take our law into our own hands,"
indicating that the NSF, "will be the
in pubs in the Toronto area.
BPH new police that wiU operate fully
The Toronto Skinheads were within the bounds of the law
also involved in the planning of an anti (concerning our personal safety) under
same-sex marriage in Toronto in Criminal Code section 27 and the use
January 2001. According to a member of Excessive Force. In some cases even
of the CHA, the Toronto Skinheads section 494 (citizen's arrest)." The site
were the primary organisers of the further indicates that the group intends
IPI
to "arrest" police officers that ignore
protest along with the CECT.
Fortunately, the protest was cancelled the complaints of racial activists,
at the last minute due to fears of arrest stating: "Rest assured, we will not back
and a heavy police presence at the down even if that means that the entire
wedding. police force is locked up."

The Canadian Ethnic Cleansing The CECT also indicates that it


Team (CECT): intends to develop an anti-racist
database and collect information on
The CECT is a Toronto-based people who "interfere with our right to
racist skinhead organisation with self- operate within the bounds of the law
reported representatives in several and our freedom of conscience,
ip Ontario cities and chapters in a number thought, belief, opinion and
of provinces. According to the CECT expression."172
website, the group has active chapters
in Alberta, British Columbia, Nova One of the most recent events
Scotia, and Quebec. Moreover, the held by the US-based NSF was a rally
organisation has recently developed an in Columbus, Ohio, on 21 April 2001.
p> association with Women for Aryan According to media reports, 17
Unity (WAU) in Victoria, British skinheads from the NSF spoke for
Columbia, and the National Skinhead approximately 20 minutes before the
B^ Front (NSF), based largely in the police shutdown the event. The NSF is
United States:171 also known as the November $
Society, which is the day that the
C.E.C.T. has been granted Berlin WaU fell. According to the NSF
Ucense to operate a National website, the group has 25 chapters with

jus!
64

four in Canada. The Canadian chapters but became an overtly racist group
include Alberta, Nova Scotia, Ontario, operating in the public forum because
and Saskatchewan. the leaders could not resist the
spotlight.
The association with the CECT
now permits the NSF to further Another section of the website
develop and maintain a presence in declares that the CECT is a "privately
Canada. The relationship will also owned and operated organization that's
aUow the CECT to network with NSF main goal is helping and supporting all
chapters and unaffihated skinhead white racialists in Canada." It further
groups in the US as weU as securing states that it seeks to work with other
additional resources and funds for groups to "achieve one common goal,
recruitment and development purposes. the preservation of the 'WHITE' race
through aU means necessary."
Since April 2001, the CECT
has attempted to solidify its presence Under the section entitled
by establishing a mailing address and a "Unity," the CECT website calls for a
telephone number. The CECT's white power association with the
official address is: PO BOX 1061, 31 racialist groups in Canada. The racist
Adelaide St. East, Toronto Ontario undertone of the organisation is clearly
M5C 2K4. The telephone number is expressed:
(416)389-6778.
We need to come together as a
In an on-line brochure entitled team to fight our enemies.
"What is the Canadian Ethnic Niggers kill each other steal
Cleansing Team," the organisation and rape from their own kind
declares itself to be a legitimate lobby spreading their filth upon our
group that aims to fight drugs, streets.... They bring their
prostitution, reintegrate "family and drugs, diseases and disseption
moral values," "resurrect true free [sic] to our land and it spreads
speech," alter tax spending, and work rapidly through our cities,
with law enforcement agencies. diluting the minds of our youth
and turning our woman [sic]
However, the true goals of the into race traitors and
organisation are much more nefarious. mudslingers.
Certainly, the aggressive and violent
connotation of the CECT name (i.e.
ethno-cultural genocide) is indicative
of the organisation's true intentions. In
The article also expresses common
anti-Semitic themes, most notably that
of the government being under Zionist
i
fact, the group proclaims its goal to be control:
the unification of "all white racialist
groups in Canada [and to] mend cracks For those of us who stand up
and form a United Front against our for our rights we are considered f^!l

foes." The CECT website further criminals, racists, outcasts, and


argues that its poUcy is, "Love your locked up and persecuted by the
country. Hate your government," and very Zionist led government
that it will "operate accordingly." that has set to destroy us.... We
Moreover, a former member indicates are not criminals; we are great
that the CECT was originaUy white warriors, here to defend
established as an underground group, our race and creed."

PSffl
Pfp

65
IP

membership of the CECT to be


The article ends with, "Take between 10 and 15 members.
everything back. It is time to fight.
RAHOWA!"173 As stated above, the CECT was
involved in the cancelled protest of the
CECT: Recent Activities same-sex marriage in Toronto in
January 2001. A source indicates that
Although short lived, the CECT the leaders from the CHA, CECT, Tri-
p
had an anti-homosexual campaign City Skins, Toronto Skins, and Marc
during late June 2001. For Lemire (director of the Heritage Front)
approximately a week, the introduction were working closely to organise the
page (of the website) featured a pink protest. It was also revealed that the
triangle and a sarcastic greeting to the CECT, Tri-City Skins, and the CHA
held at least one planning meeting in
gay and lesbian community that
r invoked images of Nazi intolerance
during the Third Reich. The page
the Kitchener area the week prior to the
wedding. Sources indicate that CECT
members planned to wear "civilian
stated: "In celebration of Gay Pride
Day... The Canadian Ethnic Cleansing clothing" in order to infiltrate the
Team extends their arm in greeting. wedding and cause a disturbance.
Now sew on the pink triangle, get back
in line, and get back to work. Canadian The group also held a
Pride! Straight Pride!" fundraiser for James Scott
Richardson,174 a CECT leader, in
Other activities include regular November 2001 along with the Tri-
attendance at racist rock concerts and City Skins. According to a source,
raciaUst meetings in the London and more than 40 people were in
KP
Woodstock areas. According to attendance that included members of
1
sources, members of the CECT have the Heritage Front Niagara Rrregion
been in attendance at these gatherings and the Canadian Heritage Alliance.
since the summer of 2000. Amongst
raciaUsts, the location has been Although the group declared (in
nicknamed the Hate Shack and bands, February 2001) that the organisation
such as Aryan and Battlefront Canada, was growing "between five and 20
have played on a number of occasions. members a month," authorities are
One of the largest gatherings took unsure of the exact numbers. However,
place on Saturday, 19 May 2001. A intelUgence sources estimate the group
police source indicates that to have a handful of chapters across
approximately 30 to 40 skinheads from Canada, with most cells having two or
Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton, three core members. A former member
Toronto, and London, were in of the group indicates that claims by
attendance. CECT leaders to have hundreds of
members are false and that the group
Unconfirmed reports indicate has approximately 40 members across
that the group held a meeting in late Canada and the United States. This
2000 at a meeting haU in Kitchener- source also indicates that there is a
Waterloo and that approximately 60 strong link between the CECT and Tri-
people were in attendance. This is City Skins and that cross-membership
likely an overestimate as intelligence exists.
sources suggest (at that time) the true
In addition, the CECT has a The Leadership of the CECT
strong association with the World
Church of the Creator (WCOTC) According to a former member,
organiser Bud Gallant from Brantford, the leaders of "the CECT are: (1)
Ontario, dating back to early 2000. Alexan Kulbashian (20) of North York,
According to a member of the CECT, and (2) James Scott Richardson (27) of
Gallant has been helpful in developing Hamilton. The source also indicates
the racialist movement in the area and that, while the group has
has been active in creating alliances approximately 40 members, most are
between the groups. In addition, affiliated with other groups and that
Gallant confirmed in an interview (6 Kulbashian is the actual leader while
January 2001) that the CECT is Richardson is his assistant.
comprised of former Heritage Front
members who are "extreme" in then- Alexan Kulbashian, also known
views and are highly unpredictable and as Alex Krause and Totenkopf, is born
on 7 December 1981 in Lebanon. His
possibly violent.
involvement in the far right only dates
Much of the information back a few years when he started to
collected from CECT indicates that the formalise his racialist ideology (in
1997 and 1998) while attending Earl
group is seeking to develop strong
links with racist organisations in both Haig Secondary School in Toronto.
Canada and the United States. Although a bright student (specialising
Certainly the association with the NSF in computer science) with a number of
will bolster the organisation in Canada friends, Kulbashian became
and its reputation abroad. Recent disillusioned with school and dropped
information also indicates that the out in 1999. A self-taught computer
CECT is quickly becoming a central expert, Kulbashian is now employed as
vehicle for the establishment of the a software engineer at a North York
united front of racist organisations via communications company.
the CECT's interconnected web
services and by settling longstanding
disputes between skinhead groups
(such as the conflict between the
Polska Skins and the TCS). According
to a CECT leader, the organisation
hosts a variety of racist websites in
Canada and the United States. In
essence, the CECT offers third-party
web-hosting services to racialist
groups, advertising its service as
censorship free and outside of the
authority of Canadian police. The Above: Alexan Kulbashian, also known as
CECT web-hosting company is called Alex Krause, is one of the leaders of the
Affordable-space.com and rents web- CECT. Kulbashian was convicted on 28
December 2001 for an assault a Black man
space on a US server based in San
in Toronto.
Diego, California.175 In addition, the
group established Vinland Collectibles,
which is a service that sells white According to a former member,
the CECT was created by Kulbashian
power patches, t-shirts, and other
items. and was in operation (on the Internet)
pw

67
pp^

as early as February 2000. By May But things went from bad to


2000, the CECT was hosting its worse and the group started to fall
website on a US-based free service apart after James Scott Richardson176
offered by a neo-Nazi group, but (15 May 1974) was arrested in
moved to their own server (affordable- September 2000 at his girlfriend's
space.com) in the fall of 2000. apartment in London and charged with
counseUing to commit murder and
On 29 April 2000, Kulbashian, uttering threats as a result of material
IP
along with Clayton Scott, Justin he posted on the Internet.177 According
Vrdoljak, and Adam Kultowski to police, Richardson moved to
confronted a Black man on a TTC bus London to develop the CECT and
in Toronto and were subsequently recruit new members from the area.
charged with assault. In court, the Police seized a computer, a Nazi flag,
presiding judge was dismayed that the white power music, and CECT
accused men chased the victim around business and membership cards.
parked cars in order to assault him.
Although Scotts' charges were dropped In an attempt to prevent further
PS (he presented evidence for the Crown), arrests, the group quickly turned
the remaining three were convicted of inward. Kulbashian (under the
assault on 28 December 2001. pseudonym Alex Krause) attempted to
dissociate himself from the CECT by
However, the arrest did Uttle to suggesting that he was leaving the
abate Kulbashian's involvement in the group to form a new, and more
?SS| racial extremist movement. In fact, politically active, organisation caUed
Kulbashian's involvement deepened the Canadian National Front.
over the summer and faU of 2000. However, intelligence sources suggest
According to a former member, the that this was simply a strategy to
CECT (which, at the time, was confuse investigators. But the fa9ade
basically Kulbashian and a few friends) did not work. In the early morning of
developed strong links with groups 31 January 2002, Kulbashian was
pup
such as the Heritage Front, the Tri-City served with a search warrant at his
Skins, and a number of American parent's house in North York and
racialist groups. It did not take long for police found evidence linking him to
the police to become concerned. the CECT and threats made on the
According to a poUce source, the Internet. Taken to London for booking,
CECT was a concern as early as Kulbashian was charged with two
October 2000 when it was rumoured counts of uttering death threats, one
that the group was organising a count of counselling to commit
gathering in Waterloo Region on 25 murder, and one count of counselling
180
PHI
November 2000. to commit property damages.

Kulbashian was again arrested Within days of Kulbashian's


PP on 28 January 2001 in connection to an arrest, many white supremacist groups
assault on a taxi driver in Toronto. associated with the CECT, as well as
According to a source, Kulbashian was the new leader of the group (named
one of three skinheads that assaulted a Denton Asketill), requested financial
taxi driver over a fare dispute. The support, indicating that survival of the
charges, however, were eventually group is entirely dependent upon
nn dropped. donations from members of the
racialist movement. x8 x
Tri-Cirv Skins (TCS) downtown core in June 2001. A source
reports that approximately 6 members
Although many of the group's of the TCS confronted a local anti-
members have been involved in the racist activist at work in early July
racist skinhead movement since the 2001. In addition, members of the TCS
mid-1990s, the TCS (as a group) has attacked anti-racist activists in
only been operating in the Kitchener- September and October 2001 and a
Waterloo and Cambridge area since window of a youth drop-in centre was
early 2000. In that period, the group broken on 15 October 2001 after a
has been linked to a variety of public member threw a beer bottle at the
activities including racist graffiti and building.182 Moreover, police believe
vandalism, the distribution of that someone associated with the TCS
sent letters claiming to contain anthrax
propaganda, aggressive behaviour and
intimidation in area high schools, to a number of Jewish groups and
leaders in Ontario and Quebec.
protests, and confrontations with anti-
racist activists.
The TCS website (tri-
cityskins.com) was originally hosted
by Geocities, a free web page server,
but the group transferred its page to the
CECT service provider (affordable-
space.com) in January 2001, indicating
that a close working relationship had
formed between the two
183
orgamsations.

In November 2000, the bravado


of the group was apparent as it claimed
(on its website) to be "the roughest, the
toughest, nastiest fuckers in the Tri-
:"- ( few**!»l -It Swht tor It* tesdy. Three glasses a day jjj City area!!!" Although that slogan has
"• .tor HK.'CaiaiiKt a*»8 ottwrjiutrterds 8*w nw .** P*M since been removed, the introduction
enargyr I neatfla tMf) jBte^irs strans. pure, untariBiefl..:
And bfft yet. S'l. «t"1e- page now states: "Contained in these
MILK pages are views that many will find
offensive. WE DON'T GIVE A
irWhe*»*s your mustache?
FUCK!!!" In addition, the "who we
Above: This poster appeared on the TCS are" page declares:
website.
We are FED UP! We are
Recently, the TCS has worked people that look around and
to develop formal contacts with the shake our heads at the Cities we
leadership of the CHA and members of live in.... We are PUSHED TO
the group attended a meeting co-hosted THE LIMIT by political parties
by CHA and CFAR (Canadians for that are so jew [sic] infested
Foreign Aid Reform) on 23 March that we are actually losing our
2001 at a Kitchener hotel. Other rights because of what we
activities include the distribution of think.... We are NOT passive!
TCS matchbooks (that contain the When we see a situation that
group's contact information) in pubs warrents [sic] it, WE WILL
and high traffic areas in the Kitchener TAKE ACTION.... We are
NOT strong believers in a Heritage Front, and the CECT. The
political resolution to our demographics of the TCS are
movement, it is war, it will be consistent with other racist skinheads
fought like a war.... We believe groups in that most of the membership
that TOGETHER WE WILL is comprised of young males, between
WIN. the ages of 17 and 28, and women are
only involved on the periphery (usually
Further reinforcing the as girlfriends).
organisation's violent image are
several homophobic and anti-Semitic
images including a burning rainbow
flag, a "no male bonding" logo (that
depicts two men in a sexual position),
and a burning United Nations flag. The
site states, "Homosexuality is against
all laws of nature and religion," and the
"United Nations is like the world
police force for the interests of the
world Jewish population. They stick
their nose into the business of any
country that does something they don't Above: TCS members went on a campaign
like, unless that country is Israel." of harassment in 2001. Some of the damage
included this broken window at an office
Although some of the TCS
used by a community group.
membership deny the organisation's
neo-Nazi ideology, claiming that they
Of concern is the group's focus
are just "proud, white Canadians," the
website has a page dedicated to Adolf on working with other organisations to
build a united racialist movement.
Hitler, Rudolf Hess, Wolfgang Droege,
Marc Lemire, and other figures Since late December 2000, the TCS
has developed strong links with the
mythologized by the white power
movement. The site also has a section CHA, helped to plan a protest in
that contains a large number of racist Toronto, and many members have
attended racialist gatherings in the
jokes and the group also sells white London and Woodstock area. The TCS
power clothing. Moreover, in February also frequents Club Abstract, an
2002, the Globe and Mail reported that
the TCS posted a photo on its website alternative nightclub in Kitchener, on
that encourages violence against weekends and witnesses indicate that
Muslims. In response, the TCS up to 30 racialist skinheads have
removed the photo and posted a gathered there to socialise and make
disclaimer indicating that, while the new contacts. In December 2000,
witnesses reported a member of the
group does not encourage violence, it
is "racially motivated." TCS yelling, "White power will
triumph," with his arm stretched out in
According to a source, the the Hitler-salute. As recently as
group consists of approximately 10 to January 2002, the TCS and other
15 members (up from about 6 main skinheads (a group between 20 and 30
members in the summer of 2000), of people) gathered at Club Abstract to
which a handful are cross-members celebrate the birthday of a prominent
with other racialist and nationalist member. The TCS has also made
organisations such as the CHA, the significant inroads in the Guelph area
and, according to a source, has According to Lisa Turner, the
recruited a number of young people Women's Information Coordinator for
into the group from the area. the WCOTC, a third contact point
included a student at the University of
World Church of the Creator Waterloo who was originally from the
'COTC) in Canada Brantford area. This student apparently
left the movement (sometime between
After an absence of 1997 and 1998). but only after
approximately three years, the distributing racialist literature on the
WCOTC is back in Southwest Ontario, campus and helping the WCOTC to
but there is much debate as to whether publish letters in The Imprint, the
the group represents a threat to society university newspaper.
as membership numbers are reported to
be less than 5 people. However, while Recently, the WCOTC opened
the WCOTC may not be as large as a chapter in Edmonton, Alberta, and in
other skinhead groups, its influence is Montreal, Quebec. The WCOTC also
started a Canadian WCOTC website
widespread as the current leader of the
group (in Brantford) is attempting to (wcotc.com/canada) that is
establish strong links with formal administered by Bud Gallant.
racialist groups.

fr3$fiS%S*r
mmh '.i

Above: Gallant operates his WCOTC


operation from a post office box in this mall
in Brantford.

While the group appears to


Above: Logo of the WCOTC have representation in three provinces
(see Table 2), sources indicate that the
Currently there are two official organisation only has a handful of
WCOTC contact points in Ontario. The members in Canada. According to Bud
first one, operated by a person known Gallant, much of the WCOTC cells in
as Kai Owles (an alias), is located at Canada are "one man shows" and
PO BOX 257, Thamesford, Ontario states the group does not have a future
NOM 2M0. Owles has another mailing in this country because of its extreme
address of PO BOX 20007, views.
Woodstock, Ontario N4S 8X8. The
second contact point is operated by This may be true. In recent
Bud Gallant and is located at PO BOX months, Owles acknowledged that he
28054, North Park Plaza PO, was slowing down his involvement in
Brantford, Ontario N3R 7X5.185 the group. Adding to the organisation's
operational difficulties in Canada,
r 71

Gallant also reduced his involvement States including Marc Lemire, Matt
in the WCOTC (starting in January Hale (leader of the WCOTC), and
several members of the CECT (both
2001), commenting that the
organisation was not marketable in Richardson and Kulbashian) and the
Canada. Gallant wrote in an email: Toronto Skinheads. Gallant also travels
■n to London to attend raciaUst meetings
Being associated with the with skinheads involved in the CECT.
WCOTC as a member was a In fact, Gallant's racialist contacts
w
p helped him secure a position on the
mistake, I think, especially
because of where I am and it CHA executive in late January 2001.
does need to be corrected. I was
< pi
a step away from being a While Gallant argues that the
completely public CECT is "too extreme" in its approach,
representative, but I think that much of his material reflects an anti-
pm would not be a wise course of Semitic worldview. An email from
action. Gallant indicates his anti-Semitic
tendencies:
In another email, Gallant wrote:
Any lukewarm groups that rise
The WCOTC is too extreme to of the Jew created sewer we
live in are only providing
publicly support at this time. I
think we need a more subtie people with false hope that
there is a political solution to
approach. I consider Creativity
ip to be my religion, but officially our problems and are another
being a member of the Church, scheme to shaft our race and
as an institution, no longer shackle it further to the Jewish
seems to be a good approach. menace that plagues our world.
The Jews are neither "left" or
However, Gallant has not taken "right". The are communists
down his Canadian WCOTC website when it serves their purpose
(frontl4.org/bud88) nor has he publicly and Capitalists when they are
denounced his participation in the the ones in a position to reap
it's hollow rewards. The Jewish
group.186 In fact, Gallant's website
(which officially went up in 1999) still problem must be solved if we
- 1 8 7
contains many anti-Semitic phrases are to survive.
that reflect the greater WCOTC
worldview, identifying Jews as In several online articles, such
as "The 'Trenchcoat Mafia' and the
parasites (although the site has not
been updated since late January 2001). media," Gallant uses the traditional
pi anti-Semitic theme of a Zionist
Although young, approximately conspiracy against white society and
21 years old in 2001, Gallant has made declares that Jews control the media
a name for himself in the white power and the government. Gallant, who
movement. In an email, Gallant argues that the killing in Columbine
comments that one of his close was a Jewish conspiracy, states: "[T]he
fPI
personal advisors is Tom Metzger of Jews are taking away the future of
White Aryan Resistance (WAR). countless White children who will
According to Gallant, he is also in grow up in this corrupt and disgusting
close contact with a number of leading world of Jewish created filth. That is
racialists in Canada and the United our genocide in the making."
people are actively monitored because
Although it is highly unlikely they "subscribe to white supremacist
that the group will expand, what is of ideology."188
concern is Gallant's intense anti-
Semitism and commitment to the
WCOTC worldview while being
involved (on the executive level) in the
CHA. By acting as a liaison between
the WCOTC and the CECT and CHA,
Gallant may be able to forge a concrete
alliance between the organisations. The
result would not only be increased
funding for the CHA or CECT from
the WCOTC in the US, but may also
Above: Racist skinheads in London protest
lead to the broad distribution of
the 2000 Pride Parade.1"9
WCOTC propaganda via the local
skinhead and nationalist groups.
During early 2001, Hamilton
had a series of far right incidents
Racist Skinheads in London,
involving skinheads. For example, on
Brantford. and Hamilton 13 February 2001, Marc Lemire, along
with approximately 10 skinheads from
The skinhead movement in
the Hamilton area, distributed
London, Brantford, and Guelph
pamphlets near the Henderson
appears to be flourishing. However, Hospital. On 20 February 2001,
these local skinhead groups largely
approximately 10 racist skinheads
operate informally and are usually part assaulted and robbed three men after
of larger organisations such as the
leaving the Corktown Tavern. It was
Heritage Front or linked to the CECT also reported that a group of racist
or the TCS.
skinheads were planning to hold a
racist rock concert on March 2001.
Since the collapse of the
Other incidents in the area include the
Northern Alliance in 1999, skinheads distribution of NSDAP-AO (a US-
in the London area have been operating
based neo-Nazi group) stickers and
in association with other groups such other racist-oriented literature in area
as CECT and the Heritage Front. For
secondary schools.
two consecutive years (2000 and 2001)
local skinheads have protested the Gay
Although racist activity has
Pride Parade by holding placards and been limited in Guelph in recent
following the route. Other activities
years,190 there are signs that racist
include vandalism, graffiti, and
organisations are planning to recruit
literature distribution at area secondary members and form a group in the area.
schools. In late August 2000, A source reported that in January 2001,
approximately 10 people ran along a approximately ten racist skinheads
street in London yelling "white power" from Brantford appeared in Guelph to
and assaulted two black men before recruit new members. In addition,
police intervened. Arrested were sources indicate that the TCS is
Timothy Baker (27), Michael O'Brien associated with the Guelph-based
(26), Szczepam Swiatek (20), and Jesse Royal City Skins (a non-racist group)
Dubriel (20). According to the London and that this may lead to the
Police Services, approximately 25
establishment of a racist skinhead
group in the area.

Above: Racist skinheads protest at the 2001


London Pride Parade.

Although the size of the


skinhead movement is limited, there is
evidence that membership is on the
increase and that groups are more
willing to engage in public activities
such as protests and gatherings. The
concern is that, with increased
membership numbers and activities,
skinhead groups may perceive a lack of
opposition (by community leaders) to
their activities as evidence of public
support for their racist ideology and
may, therefore, target ethnic or
minority groups for harassment or
assault.
ppl

74

CHAPTER 7. beUefs. In his analysis on racism in


Canada, Anthony Richmond argues:
ip,
The New Generation 1of Organised "Canadians appear to reject explicit
91
Racialism in Canada racism," but that many subscribe to
"implicitly racist attitudes and
rUh
For much of the 20th century, practices," indicating that many
Canadians are open to moderate racist
openly racist organisations, such as the
Ku Klux Klan, National Unity Party, themes.192 Moreover, Peter Li argues
Canadian Nazi Party, Edmunde Burke that an "extreme position [i.e. blatant
white supremacists], which many
Society, Western Guard, Nationalist
Party of Canada, Aryan Nations, and people have Uttle difficulty
HP the Heritage Front, have dominated the condemning, only makes milder
far right movement in Canada. When versions more reasonable and thus
most Canadians think of organised more tolerable," and may led to the
racism (i.e. hate groups), they promotion of an undercurrent of
automatically envision the violent neo- accepted racism.193 In other words, by
Nazi skinhead; and the mainstream only denouncing extreme forms of
media, through superficial and racism, society creates an environment
sensationalistic analyses of racism in that condones (through toleration)
Canada, reinforces this image. In moderate forms of racism that serve to
iflPH reality, neo-Nazi skinhead groups undermine the foundations of
make up a very small portion of the democracy, inclusiveness, and
overall far right movement and do not multiculturalism.
achieve widespread growth because
This section examines the new
they normally function as closed
organisations outside of the purview of generation of organised racialism in
mainstream society. Canada by outlining the growing use of
camouflaged language and surrogate
C a n a d a i s , h o w e v e r, issues to advance racialism and
experiencing a dramatic increase in a identifying the connections of the
new form of organised racism that seemingly moderate far right with
represents a greater threat to the overtly racist organisations. In
maintenance of democracy and addition, this chapter will examine the
API
multiculturalism because of its subtle trend of involvement by the new
approach and pervasive nature. This generation of organised racialism with
new generation of raciaUst groups mainstream political parties and will
strategically conceals or camouflages a restructure the system of categorisation
racialist agenda behind a moderate of the far rightwing that takes into
poUtical message while associating consideration the subtle shift towards
with extreme organisations that are radicalism.
openly racist and have a history of
violent activity. The concern is that this Redefining the Organised Far Right
new generation of organised racialism, Movement
by publicly denouncing violence and
camouflaging racist language while The far rightwing movement is
maintaining connections to the extreme highly complex, being comprised of
rightwing, are marketing a seemingly several different classes of
less-extreme white supremacist organisations, ranging from the more
ideology to mainstream society that political anti-immigration and New
may result in mass acceptance of racist World Order conspiracy groups to

i^si
75

aggressively anti-Semitic and violence- categories are primarily based on two


prone neo-National SociaUst groups aspects: (1) the approach and tactics
and Christian Identity organisations. used by the groups to advance the
Although most far rightwing groups cause of white supremacy (including
share a common worldview, in that of violence and subversive tactics)
particular the idea that Western, and, (2) whether a group publicly
Christian society is under attack by supports an ideology of racialism or
formidable and antithetical global the goal of racial separation (i.e. the
forces, there are a number of inherent forced separation of the races and the
differences in structure, ideology, and estabUshment of a white nationalist
sanctioned behaviour. Michi Ebata state).199 For Barrett, the fringe right is
argues that "not aU right-wing
extremists are the same; some,
largely comprised of single-issue
groups (such as freedom of speech,
anti-immigration, or foreign aid
i
particularly at the political end, have
moderated their positions to achieve reform), which seek to establish a
other objectives."194 It is therefore populist movement and influence
necessary to accurately identify the mainstream poUtical parties through
various categories or classes that non-violent means. Moreover, the
comprise the far rightwing movement. fringe right pubUcly denounces
raciaUst objectives, noting that the
At its most basic, the far right "mode of operation" is to "establish
movement refers to the position of the definite organisations but to leave the
political spectrum beyond that of line between members, potential
mainstream conservative political members, and the rest of society
thought and action, and is comprised of blurred and fluid."200 Groups within
groups that adhere to an ideology the fringe right, therefore, attempt to
based ori racial superiority, anti- operate within the mainstream,
communism, anti big-government, identifying themselves as legitimate
anti-immigration, and anti-Semitism, poUtical lobby groups, but are far
and are commonly identified as racial enough removed from the mainstream
supremacist organisations or hate that they identify themselves as being
groups.195 Li furthers the definition, fundamentaUy different from
noting racial supremacist groups are established conservative political
organized social groups that operate parties (in fact, the members normally
with the "objective of dehumanising recognise themselves as being true
their target victims and excluding them conservatives).201 In contrast, radical
from equal participation in society as right groups are openly racist, often use
steps to advance the cause of building a violence, and operate as a closed social
political and social svstem based on group.202 Barrett notes the thematic
white supremacy."19 In order to differences between the fringe and
achieve these goals, white supremacist radical right:
groups engage in highly structured,
group-oriented activities that may [A]lmost aU of the radical-right
include near criminal acts or the use of organizations were anti-
197
violence. Semitic, anti-black, anti-
communist, anti-immigration,
In his 1987 analysis, Stanley anti-foreign aid, anti-world
Barrett divides the far rightwing government, anti-egalitarian,
movement into two general categories, anti-homosexual, anti-feminist,
the fringe and radical right.198 Barrett's and anti-abortion; they also
firmly believed in a Jewish between fringe and radical
conspiracy, supported nuclear organisations was practically non
armaments, and were violence- existent. Barrett argues: "[It] is a
prone. Most of the fringe-right gigantic leap from the fringe to the
organizations were also anti- extreme right. And once it has been
communist, anti-homosexual, made, very few people ever climb back
anti-abortion, and anti- down and march to a more moderate
egalitarian. Unlike the radical- tune."206 In other words, there was a
right, however, there was not clear demarcation between the fringe
agreement among members on and radical right.
the other issues, and indeed
there was overwhelming
rejection of anti-Semitic and
anti-black beliefs (at least the
deliberate brand), and of
violence as well.

According to Barrett, the fringe right


consists of groups such as the
Canadian Association for the Freedom
of Expression (CAFE) and the Citizens
Above: Paul Fromm speaking, David Duke
for Foreign Aid Reform (C-FAR)
(sitting), at a meeting hosted by the
whereas the Western Guard, the Ku American Friends of the British National
Klux Klan, and the Nationalist Party of Party in March 2000.
Canada are considered radical
rightwing groups. In total, Barrett Today, the separation between
collected information on 161 groups, the traditional fringe and radical right
79 of which were radical right groups is not clear, as many groups belonging
while 82 were identified as fringe to the fringe right category (as
204
groups. identified by Barrett) have developed a
close working relationship with radical
However, Barrett's analysis groups. For example, many ultra-
falls short of accurately identifying the conservative, pro-European heritage
complex nature of the contemporary lobby groups, such as CAFE and the
far right movement in Canada. Stephen Canadian Heritage Alliance (CHA),
Scheinberg points out that Barrett's have formed concrete ties with more
analysis "does not appear to be too radical organisations (such as the
useful" because many (seemingly) Heritage Front or the National
non-violent fringe leaders, such as Alliance) that publicly promote racial
Fromm, could easily fit in the separation. In fact, Paul Fromm, the
categories reserved for violent director of CAFE, stood next to a Nazi
skinheads and other extremists and that flag at a 1990 Heritage Front meeting
racialist groups, in particular the racist and spoke to a room full of racist
skinhead movement, has become a skinheads, stating: "We're all on the
force throughout Canada, including same side. We're up against an enemy,
Quebec.205 The problem with the as I see it, the equivalent of an army of
applicability of Barrett's analysis to the occupation... and the only way we are
contemporary far right movement is going to regain out country is through
that, prior to the creation of the unity, unity, unity."207 More recently,
Heritage Front in 1989, co-operation Fromm spoke at a meeting in the
77

United States, along with former KKK tax, or free speech) without supporting,
leaders David Duke and Don Black, whether publicly or otherwise, a
about racial conflict and a lack of free racialist ideology or having
speech and was touted as "Canada's connections to radical groups. Crypto-
leading Nationalist." The groups that radical groups are those that, although
comprised Barrett's fringe right,
therefore, have become increasingly
they do not pubUcly support a racist
ideology, disguise a racialist ideology
behind seemingly legitimate political
]
radicaUsed, effectively contributing to
overt forms of raciaUsm by or social issues, operate largely in
camouflaging a radical message behind semi-private or private, and attempt to
a seemingly moderate facade and influence mainstream poUtical groups
working with extremist groups behind while maintaining an association with
the scenes. Ebata argues: extremist groups. Lastly, radical
rightwing (or the extremist rightwing)
Within the seemingly poUtical groups are those that openly espouse a trrcRSj

ranks of the extreme right, raciaUst ideology and may use violence
violence is an intrinsic element or questionable means, including
encouraged and manipulated by terrorism or subversion, to achieve fSBSi

leaders and often condoned by organisational objectives (in particular,


alliances with those who racial separation).
commit violence. Radical right
parties seeking electoral Similar to Barrett's original
success do not obviously analysis, violence alone does not make
embrace and participate in a determination in this new system, but
physical violence and thus rather the placement of a group into a
jeopardize their success, but specific category is dependent upon a
their rhetoric justifies such number of variables including the
action.208 openness of adherence to (and public
support of) a racialist ideology, the
In order to accommodate for tendency or wiUingness to use violence
the subtle shift towards radicaUsm by to achieve organisational goals, and the
the fringe right, it is necessary to re level of hostility shown towards target
structure Barrett's analysis and add a groups.211 Ebata uses similar themes in
category that accurately identifies far his analysis of the far right, arguing:
right organisations that, although they "The most outstanding features of the
do not pubUcly espouse violence or extreme right are, then, the centrahty
racism, secretly operate in concert with
the radical groups, in particular
regarding the use of violence or
of hatred towards outsiders,
nationaUsm, anti-Semitism, and
violence. Selecting these themes
1
subversive tactics. This new far right provides a point of departure for
structure would include the following contrasting the variety of
categories: (1) the moderate rightwing manifestations of the extreme right."212
(effectively replacing Barrett's use of Therefore, far right groups, such as
the term fringe),209 (2) the crypto- CAFE and the Canadian Heritage
radical rightwing,210 and (3) the AUiance (that would qualify as fringe
radical or extreme rightwing. Within rightwing in Barrett's analysis) fall into
this system, fringe groups are those the crypto-radical category (because of
that operate in the public forum (i.e. efforts to camouflage racialism and
meetings are accessible) and focus on links to radical groups) while
politicised issues (such as immigration, organisations with a pattern of violence

PSjH
p
m

78

and racist behaviour (such as the Campus Alternative, which ''provided


Heritage Front, Aryan Nations, and the an opportunity for conservative
World Church of the Creator) are students to exchange views."215 By
considered radical or extreme 1975, the Campus Alternative had
rightwing groups. Moreover, groups affiliates at York University and the
belonging to the sovereign citizen's University of Waterloo. Fromm then
movement (i.e. the anti-tax and anti- established the Citizens for Foreign
government movement) and world Aid Reform (C-FAR), a single-issue
conspiracy movement (i.e. the anti-UN special interest group dedicated to
or anti-New World Order movement), criticising the government's foreign aid
qualify as the new moderate right. and immigration policy, in 1979 and

r The New Generation: Concealed and


Surrogate Racism
the Canadian Association for Free
Expression (CAFE) in 1981.
According to Fromm, "CAFE came
into existence because of the very real
One of the most significant moderate efforts by both the estabUshment and
rightwing groups in Canada was the the far-leftist forces to stifle
Edmunde Burke Society (EBS), a conservative discussion especially of
group established in 1967 by Paul race and immigration."216 In 1997,
Fromm, Leigh Smith, and Don Fromm established the Canada First
Andrews to oppose communism, Immigration Reform Committee (C-
abortion, immigration, and big FIRC), an organisation dedicated to
government. Fromm, however, left the lobbying mainstream politicians on
ispj group in 1972 after it was renamed the immigration issues and to build a mass
Western Guard and appeared to be European cultural and heritage
moving towards a more radical reformist movement built on the notion
mandate. Fromm's decision to leave of'Canada first'
the group was based on the idea that
the use of violence and overt The basic ideological belief
connections to racism (i.e. anti- guiding CAFE, C-FAR, and CFIRC
Semitism) were self-defeating to the holds that there is a trend of social
goal of establishing a populist decay and racial replacement occurring
movement; that is, the Canadian in western society. In response to this
majority would not support a far right perceived crisis, these groups capitalise
group that relied upon violence to on latent fears and anxieties in order to
achieve social or political goals. encourage a socially acceptable form
MP!
Barrett noted: "Towards the end of the of xenophobia by reinforcing the
1970s, a new sophistication could be perception that white, European-
detected in the organisations with Christians are being replaced by third-
■IP}
which Fromm was associated.... No world immigrants and that this 4re-
doubt Fromm and the people setdement' is part of a massive
surrounding him by the late 1970s and conspiracy constructed by the forces of
early 1980s had become more polished the New World Order. An editorial in
[and] more professional."214 the Times Colonist argues: "Groups
like the Canada First Immigration
Fromm, however, did not leave Reform Committee are taking valid
the far right movement after resigning questions and concerns about
from the Western Guard. In 1973, he immigration policy and dragging them
■P established a university-based across the line using them to legitimate
moderate rightwing organisation, the weak-minded xenophobia, pandering
79

517
to our basest emotions and fear." r e p l a c e d . . . . We n e e d a
Christopher Flood notes that similar far m i n i m u m fi v e r - y e a r
right organisations in Europe, in moratorium - that's a complete
particular the National Front in France, halt - an all intake of
have made immigration the immigrants or refugees. During
"centrepiece of their poUtical that time, we must have a full
platforms" and have linked national debate to craft a new
immigration with a range of social and Canada first immigration policy
economic problems.218 In addition, Li which will then be submitted to
argues: "In reaUty, these groups are the electorate in a binding
effective in providing the means and national referendum/ ~
the rationale for disgruntied and
marginalized individuals to divert their The newsletter further states that the
hostilities and blames to racial group must raise $50,000 in order to
minorities for what they see as a develop a series of advertisements to
'paradise lost.'"219 inform other Canadians of "the New
World Order strategy behind our
One of the most significant nation's immigration poUcy," and "the
anti-immigration campaigns co ultimate goal - the gentie genocide of
ordinated by CFIRC was in 1999, after European Canadians." In addition,
a number of Chinese migrants sought university-based academics are invited
refugee status in Canada. Harry to speak at CAFE and C-FAR
Abrams, a B.C. representative of the meetings, which serves to legitimise
B'nai Brith who monitors the activities the beUef structure as well as to
of Fromm and CFIRC, noted that the reinforce the moderate image of the
issue of illegal immigrants is being groups. (See Table 1 for a Ust of
used to "piggyback" a broader Fromm's recent activities in the area.)
xenophobic campaign.220 The theory of
replacement is identified in a C-FAR There are two other groups,
newsletter: Straight-pride Incorporated and the
Canadian Heritage AUiance, currently
There's no doubt about it, our advancing raciaUsm through a non-
poUtical masters mean to direct platform. Straight-pride protests
replace the European founders started in London, Ontario, in 1998 and
and settlers and builders of this were organised by Raphael Bergmann,
country. By 2050, Canadians of in conjunction with several members
European origin may well be a from a racist skinhead group called the
minority in their own land.... Northern Alliance, to protest the
Most politicians and almost the annual gay pride parade. Bergmann,
entire press profess to see no however, publicly denies any
problem in our being connection to organised racism and
replaced.... The mindset is argues that his anti-gay protests are a
being created for the willing forum to fight political correctness, not
a c c e p t a n221
ce of our own to promote racism. Bergmann argues:
destruction.
Our event [Straight-pride] was
Similarly, a CFIRC newsletter states: less about local contentions
over gay/straight relations than
There is not much time left to about the much broader aspect
reverse the trend to our being of greater government

ffi5
r 80
i v)

interference in our lives, sponsored by CAFE and CHA in


whether it be from human Kitchener on 23 March 2001. The
rights commissions or non- meeting was well attended and
elected judges who make included several racist skinheads from
rulings on issues far too the Tri-City Skins and the World
important not to take to a Church of the Creator.
223
national plebiscite
Established in 2000, the
ism
H o w e v e r, B e r g m a n n ' s Canadian Heritage AlUance (CHA) is
connection to radical groups runs the newest progressive far right
counter to his claims of innocence. organisation in Canada and has quickly
From 1995 through 1996, Bergmann gained a nationwide membership. On
was highly involved in the Heritage the CHA website, the group identifies
Front and the World Church of the itself as a "collection of dissident
M |
Creator, a US-base neo-Nazi group, writers and concerned Canadians who
and organised a number of neo-Nazi have united to act as a poUtical lobby
rock conceits in the London area that group" to "urge politicians to take a
drew more than 250 people. In 1997 more active 'Canada for Canadians'
and 1998, Bergmann spoke at two Ku approach to dealing with Canadian
Klux Klan rallies in the United States - issues and to stabUize immigration."-*"
one in Erie, Pennsylvania, the other in Denying any connection to organised
Ann Arbor, Michigan - at which he racism, the group asserts that it is
repeatedly yelled "white power." In seeking to return Canada to a more
addition, Bergmann is the former "traditional European way of life."
leader of the Northern AlUance, which Law enforcement agencies disagree
the poUce have labelled "urban and have publicly identified the group
as a white supremacist organization

r
terrorists,"224 and has expressed
interest in re-starting the Northern with ties to established hate groups.2"
Alliance, given the proper political Melissa Guille, one of the leaders of
climate.225 In early 2000, Bergmann the group, rejects the label, preferring

r mentioned that organised racism was


not marketable in Canada, and that an
alternative forum was necessary. To
to caU the CHA a nationalist
organisation rather than a hate group.
Guille argues: "We're trying to remove
this end, Bergmann identified that the the anti-white sentiment in society"
Straight-pride protests were an and "fix a country that has really been
effective method to achieving in decline for our children.""
mainstream respectability and that it is Although Guille denies that the CHA is
an issue that can be sold to the majority a racist organisation, she does admit
of Canadians. Furthermore, Bergmann that it "appeals to those who believe in
noted that the protests were effective in white supremacy and said they are
gaining media attention, and that his welcome to join."
plan to run for city council was

r dependent upon building a large anti-


political correctness and free speech
movement in the area.227 Further
The history of the CHA, and
the individuals involved in its creation,
indicates that the group has significant
indicating that racial issues play a connections to formal racialist
fundamental role in his worldview, organisations and attempts to promote
Bergmann shouted, "multiculturalism a subde and pervasive form racism.
is the worst kind of racism," at anti- During die organisation's
racist protestors during a meeting co- development, the leaders of the group

■m
81

sought advice regarding organisational the article, Benoit admitted to meeting


structure and policies from a number of with Fromm at his office in Ottawa and
well-known far right extremists in Toronto, stating: "[S]ome of the $g§

including Paul Fromm and Marc things he said made a lot of sense. I
Lemire (the director of the Heritage think he offered some good
232
Front) suggestions for changing the
immigration system."235 Fromm's
Lemire had a definite impact on attempt to influence the political
the formation of the group's mainstream via immigration reform is
ideological structure, and many of his not a new tactic. According to Barrett,
suggestions were implemented. For Fromm considered immigration to be a
example, CHA poUcy states that, more "volatile issue to raise with MPs
"immigration will only be permitted on than foreign aid."236 In 1999, Fromm
the basis of skiU and academic booked a hospitality suite at a
quaUfication." Moreover, the poUcy conservative poUtical conference in
argues: "AU immigrants and refugees Ottawa at which he invited "young
must apply from abroad and will be tories and reformers" to join him to
vetted abroad ... [and] Canada's discuss immigration and free speech
'occupational' needs Ust will be issues. 237
eliminated and funding to "immigrant
aid" groups wiU be reduced." Lastly, Leon Benoit is not the only
the policy declares that Canada is to Canadian AUiance member to have
pull out of the UN and NATO and wiU contact with the far right; apparently,
only participate in foreign affairs if it is Raphael Bergmann contacted Rob
in Canada's interests and that only Anders, the Canadian AlUance member
"Canadian citizens wiU be allowed to who voted against granting Nelson
access social programs such as Social Mandela honorary Canadian
Services, Legal Aid, etc."233 citizenship, regarding his Straight-
pride protests.23
The CHA also estabUshed links
with a number of other radical groups, The connection to the Canadian
including the Kitchener-based Tri-City AUiance by the far right is much
Skins and the Canadian Ethnic deeper than merely advising on policy.
Cleansing Team, to organise In a conversation with Fromm, it was
recruitment campaigns and pubUc suggested that his group was contacted
protests. by members of the Canadian Alliance
to collect information that would
The Far Right and Mainstream publicly damage Warran Kinsella, a )
Politics Liberal Party advisor and author, in
retaliation for articles critical of the
One of Fromm's primary Canadian AUiance.239 Indicating that
objectives is to lobby mainstream contact may have occurred between the
politicians in order to influence Canadian Alliance and the far right, {""^ i

policies on health, crime, and Lemire (who also acts as Fromm's


immigration reform. In June 2001, it web-master) notes, "As for if we were
was revealed by Jonathan Gatehouse approached by people in the Canadian
that Leon Benoit, the former AUiance to send them information on
immigration critic for the Canadian Kinsella... WeU that's between us and
AlUance, had "face to face meetings" them."240 Lemire further states, "Yes it
with Fromm dating back to 1999.23 In is true we are building a file on him
in

82

Reform Party, the predecessor to the


through our website.... We expose his
lies, half-truths, and other shenanigans Canadian Alliance, and many even
5PJ
he is up to."241 served as part of a security team at
Reform meetings in Ontario. ** In fact,
It was revealed in late 2000 that Fromm permitted a local representative
several far right members and of the Reform Party to set up a table at
extremist were also members of the a 1991 C-FAR meeting in order to
Canadian AUiance, including Doug recruit new members. The SIRC report
$099^
Christie, Marc Lemire, Paul Fromm, also indicates that, in 1989, Fromm
and Doug Collins.242 However, the asked a Reform Party member "to
Canadian AUiance quickly expeUed the organize a centennial party in
far right extremists just prior to the celebration of Adolf Hitler's birthday"
federal election in 2000. Lemire was and that the gathering was to "involve
furious with the decision and in a letter as many local skinheads as cared to
to the Canadian AUiance, states: attend."*45

Has the Canadian Alliance now The Canadian Alliance is not


gone down that slippery slope the only mainstream political party to
towards censorship and be involved with the far right
repression of its members, and, movement. In late 1999, the Freedom
iP^ if so, when they become the Party of Ontario, a civil libertarian
government in a few months, political party, came to the aid of
will this repression follow in Raphael Bergmann and another former
B ^ the laws they propose? I would member of the Northern Alliance, a
like to know, and I am sure my London-based racist organisation, after
circle of friends across Canada representatives of the London PoUce
who are spending massive Service requested they attend a
amounts of their own time meeting at police headquarters. Robert
supporting the Canadian Metz, the president of the Freedom

r
Alliance would also like to Party wrote several letters on
know the answers.... If this is Bergmann's behalf, criticising the
the road the Canadian AlUance poUce service. In addition, Paul Blair,
now chooses to go down, it is the Executive Officer of the Freedom
HP?
not a party which I agree with Party, handed out business cards and
and it is not a cause I would party brochures to Straight-pride
243
chose to dedicate my time to. protestors, including racist skinheads,
in Toronto in June 2000.
On 17 October 2000, the Centre-
Rosedale riding association held an Summary
PW)
emergency executive meeting to
discuss the expulsion. Unlike the far right movement
in the 1970s and 1980s in which two
Certainly, involvement in the separate forms of organised racism
Canadian Alliance by the far right is existed, the contemporary far right is
not new. In a detailed report by the marked by the emergence of the new
Security Intelligence Review generation of subtle racism, a
Committee (SIRC) in 1994, it was movement that strategically
revealed that several members of the manipulates legitimate issues to market
far right, in particular the Heritage racism to a mass audience while
Front, had become members of the maintaining links with violence-prone

f5#j
83
[$$m\

extremist groups. In order to $


accommodate for the shift towards
radicalism, it is necessary to re- ")]
structure our understanding of the far !
right movement and introduce a new
conceptual c a t e g o r y, the crypto-radical m{
right, to Barrett's original analysis. !
While overt racist organisations are the
most recognisable, they do not ^
represent a threat to the maintenance of
democracy and multiculturalism in
Canada (although they represent a *j
threat to personal safety); rather the J
real threat emanates from this new
generation of raciaUsts, the crypto- ^
radical rightwing, that strategically I
engage in the subtie manipulation of
legitimate poUtical and social concerns <^
that promotes a moderate form of {
racism. In essence, the new generation
of far right groups recognise that overt /^
racism is rejected by most Canadians \
and attempt to establish a populist
racist movement by exploiting fears ^
and insecurities (in particular
immigration issues) that encourage a
tolerated form of racism. Li argues _
that, when placed next to radical or |
extremist groups, moderate or
concealed racist groups are more likely
to be tolerated. The concern is that the |
crypto-radical rightwing has the *
potential to market an extreme form of
racism to a mass audience and "1
mainstream poUticians in a seemingly 1
moderate package that wiU undermine
a policy of multiculturaUsm and ^1
democracy in Canada. I

i
84

CHAPTER 8.
Before proceeding with a critical

r The Hidden Racism of the Canadian


Heritage Alliance
examination of the CHA, it is essential
to clarify the use of the term
"racialism." The reason for the use of
f fi U S ^

On its website, the Canadian the term "racialism" is primarily due to


Heritage AUiance (CHA) refers to its acceptance within the neo-National
itself as a "collection of dissident Socialist and white power movement.
pn writers and concerned Canadians who Briefly, it is a term most used by white
have united to act as a poUtical lobby supremacists as a self-descriptor. For
group." The website further states that those in the white power movement,
die group "[urges] politicians to take a the term raciahsm goes beyond the
more active 'Canada for Canadians' visceral or primal forces of racism and
approach to dealing with Canadian hate, it is considered more refined and
issues and to stabilize immigration, enhghtened.
returning Canada to a more traditional
European way of Ufe, including a From a critical perspective, the
reaUgnment with the Monarchy."246 term raciahsm is synonymous with
racism and hate-motivated behaviour -
Sounds harmless enough, right? the terms are, in fact, interchangeable.
Wrong. However, I use subject-oriented terms
as often as possible to raise awareness
Although the poUcy statement of their actual meaning and function

ri appears quite benign, and even


suggests the organisation is a
(i.e. how they are being used by the
racists to disguise the real mandate of
the raciaUst organisations). In other
legitimate political group, the CHA

r was actually formed with the intention


of promoting a hidden-agenda of white
pride and racialism. And while one of
words, I find it best to use the terms
accepted by racists when challenging
hate and racism. The use of racialism
or raciaUst (within this context) to

r
the CHA's leaders, Melissa Guille, was
quoted in the media declaring that the describe a group or individual does not
organisation is not racist (i.e. not a minimise the level of racism, but rather
"hate group"),247 she confirmed that it it elucidates the true racist nature of the
is a "nationalist" organisation and that subject.
it does appeal to those who believe in
white supremacy and that they are The CHA came into existence
welcome to join the organisation. during the final months of the summer
of 2000, taking its place among the
While the spokesperson for the cyber-based racialist groups in late
CHA provides a seemingly October. But, before the CHA made its
contradictory message (i.e. we are not appearance, Melissa Guille (28) and
a hate group but racists are allowed to her brother Chris (26) (the two
join), the truth about the group (its founding members of the CHA) threw
mandate of raciahsm) is revealed by around several ideas for the
closely examining the policies and development of a racialist organisation
statements of the group and its links to in the area. In fact, Melissa and Chris
established raciaUst organisations such were seeking to set up their own
as the Heritage Front (HF), the Tri-City raciaUst organisation as early as July

r Skins (TCS), and the Canadian Ethnic


Cleansing Team (CECT).
2000. In one email (1 July 2000),
Melissa mentioned that her brother
|S^!

85

(Chris) was "trying to get something


happening in Kitchener." Later in July, On 3 September 2000, Melissa
Melissa stated that it would be "great and Chris met with BiU Livingston in
to have a new [HF] chapter in K-W (27 Hamilton, Ontario, to discuss the start
July 2000)." She further stated: "But of an HF chapter. At the meeting, it
who would be willing to take the risk was decided that Melissa (along with 1
and lead it? I would help on various BiU) would act as the main contact
tasks, but I wouldn't want to take the points for the new chapter. However,
title of chapter president." Ironic, concern over the viability of the HF f^!??.

considering that Melissa would end up label was raised. According to


assuming the bulk of the responsibiUty Livingston, the HF was aU but dead,
for the CHA, including acting as the and that a power struggle was taking f^ss I

primary email contact and developing place for control of the organisation.
the website. Again, in a conversation at As a result, Livingston urged that the
a Tim Horton's, MeUssa and Chris re HF label not be used and contact with
asserted their interest in starting a local Marc Lemire and Paul Fromm be
chapter of the HF. Chris also limited until the new group was
mentioned that he had been leaving formed. Apparently, Lemire and
white power brochures and pamphlets Fromm were not to be trusted as they
(with his email address) around had plans to take-over the HF. It was
Kitchener-Waterloo for a number of finaUy decided that Melissa and Chris
months. were to continue planning the
development of a group independent of
By August, the GuiUe's were in the HF, but one that had a direct link F9$i

contact with BiU Livingston, the leader with Livingston's HF Niagara Chapter.
of HF Niagara, and it appeared as
though Melissa and Chris were on their Within two weeks, however,
way to set-up a local chapter of the HF. the idea of an organisation with a
According to Melissa, Livingston formal association with the HF Niagara
provided information to start their own chapter completely fell apart. After (Spf

chapter, suggesting that they develop weighing the options, Melissa and
propaganda and set up a local post Chris decided to develop their own
office box (12 August 2000). In an raciaUst organisation outside of
email, Livingston suggested that Livingston (although he would
MeUssa "take it slow" and not to make continue to provide advice regarding
a "big splash before your ready." policies). It seemed as though the
GuiUe's were concerned about getting
The idea of a local HF chapter locked into a power struggle and
seemed to be the logical choice for the wanted to avoid the conflict by
GuiUe's since all three (MeUssa, Chris, developing a group independent of the
and Andrew) were either current or HF. By 17 September 2000, Melissa
former members of the organisation. had set up at CHA email address
According to an email from Melissa (c_h__a@canada.com) and started to
(26 July 2000), she noted that her two contact Canadian and American
249
brothers had been members "for years" raciaUsts seeking web-space.
but that her membership had been lost
"due to recent changes in the HF." By late September, the GuiUe's
Melissa further stated that she called were on their way to establishing the
and was "assured that everything is CHA. In Kitchener-Waterloo, both
coming together now." Melissa and Chris were distributing
86

homemade CHA business cards very website until a permanent web-host


simUar to the cards used by the HF. On could be found.
one side of the CHA card, a large
Celtic cross appears with the words: By mid-October, Melissa was
"Is Having Pride Racist? The 'racist' busy formalising the CHA, procuring
Double Standard." The other side articles for the upcoming website and
states: finalising the group's policy and
mission statement (16 October 2000).
The 'racist' double standard: On October 16, Melissa secured
Whites are made to feel guilty permission from Fromm to use any of
for feeling proud of their own his articles on the CHA website.
heritage and culture. Whites in Likewise, Melissa contacted Alex
Canada are asked to devote Curtis (on October 17) to seek
themselves to the interest of permission to use his articles and on
P
I> other races and are forced to October 23 she contacted Don Black
neglect the interests of their (of stormfront.org) in the US and
own heritage. This is equivalent requested information (i.e. cost and
to asking man to forsake his start-up time) regarding web-space.
own children and love the
children of his neighbours, Although it appeared that
since to do otherwise would be Melissa had done much of the work,
an act of "hate". If you would Chris was also active in the
like to learn more please development of the group, designing
contact Canadian Heritage the CHA's logos and cards.
Alliance c__h_a@canada.com. Throughout October, Chris was also
busy distributing CHA propaganda in
On 6 October 2000, Melissa the Kitchener area, primarily using
and Chris attended a meeting at the photocopies of propaganda provided
Kitchener Holiday Inn sponsored by by 14 Word Press with the CHA email
Paul Fromm's CFAR organisation. The address printed in the corner. One of
the pamphlets, entitled "What is Hate,"
speaker that night was Mark Weber of
the US-based Institute of Historical calls for the establishment of an all
Review. After the meeting, Melissa white nation: "If Whites do not
and Chris spent nearly two hours immediately establish an exclusive
talking to Fromm, Weber, and Lemire. White nation, then the beauty of the
By the end of the night, Lemire White Aryan woman will soon cease to
promised that he would help to develop exist on earth forever."
the CHA. On his way out, Chris placed
CHA business cards on several tables Although it was clear that the
P! in the bar area. CHA was not to be an extension of the
HF, a direct link with the group (via
On 7 October 2000, Lemire Livingston) continued throughout
returned to Kitchener-Waterloo to October and November. In early
discuss the CHA with Melissa and, that O c t o b e r, M e l i s s a r e q u e s t e d
night, they went out to celebrate Livingston's help regarding the CHA's
Oktoberfest. Over the next two weeks, mission statement. In response (5
Lemire spent a significant amount of October 2000), Livingston suggested
time with Melissa. It was during this that the CHA market itself as a
i$S} period that Melissa and Chris decided "nationalist group" as the racialism
to use the Freedomsite to host the CHA will foUow:

($P)
87

November 2000).250 Within a week, the


"I agree you [Melissa] should group received requests for
f*H
have some type of opening or memberships. On 12 November 2000,
'mission statement' to set the Lemire provided his final policy
tone of ... both the site and the suggestions to Melissa. In his email,
organization, what I would Lemire suggested that the CHA take a
suggest is something that leans '"Canada First' approach to the Indian
a littie more towards the situation." Lemire stated:
Canadian NationaUsm tone, the
racialism wiU naturally foUow They [Natives] do not deserve
suit as a consequence of any special rights based on their
seeking changes that wiU race... Nor should you refer to
benefit the country, and the them as "native". They are
m a j o r i t y. T h i s s t r a t e g y NOT Native to Canada at all, in
encourage visitors to your site fact they are from Asia. t*s5J

who might me frightened away Nothing more than Mongols


otherwise by the thought of who trekked a relatively small
being tarred and feathered as distance over the Bearing
'racists.'" straight land bridge. Unlike our
people who conquered the seas
In another email from Melissa at great risk to explore this
(12 October 2000), Livingston offered territory.
suggestions regarding criminal
legislation and immigration reform. Regarding immigration, Lemire ffti^i

According to emails from Melissa, suggested:


Livingston remained highly involved
in the development of the group The simple solution is to
throughout October and November and restrict all "family class
can be credited, along with Lemire, immigrants" and make the
with creating much of the "Points" system apply evenly to
organisation's structure and poUcy
platform (19 November 2000).
all appUcants. Make it a
requirement that all Immigrants
and Refugees apply abroad and
1
be vetted abroad. Do away with
Canada's "occupational" need
_3 &> Ust and reduce all funding to
P T;
"immigrant aid" groups.... As
well you may want to add an
additional policy that clearly
Is Having Pride Racist? i sets out Canada's sovereignty
The 'racist* Double Standard and that only Canadians are
allowed to use programs like
Above: The front side of a CHA Welfare, legal aid, etc. This
business card. would be de facto control over
non-white immigration, since
Although Lemire traveUed to as a general rule only
Russia with Droege and several others Europeans can pass the points
to attend a conference, he remained systems, due to their level of
active in the development of the group education, work experience,
and gave MeUssa permission to post etc.
the CHA site on the Freedomsite (9
88

of the cost of running a racialist group,


In addition, Lemire provided complained of the expenses:
policy suggestions regarding Canada's
commitment to NATO and the UN We need to consider costs,
(arguing against any foreign especially considering we are
'jj~ involvement as based on a "Canada running backwards and have no
First" platform) and language training financial support. Once the
(arguing against bilingualism). items for the Storefront are up,
hopefuUy we can gradually
Lemire had a significant impact replace some of the costs Chris
on Melissa, and she used many of his and I have taken personally.... I
suggestions on the group's "poUcy hate to say finances are an
declaration" page. For example, the issue, but for the moment they
CHA poUcy states under "National are. So we need to be
Heritage and Multi-CulturaUsm" that economical without appearing
"immigration will only be permitted on cheap and unprofessional (28
the basis of skill and academic December 2000).
qualification." Moreover, the poUcy
states: "All immigrants and refugees Also in December (16
must apply from abroad and wiU be December 2000), MeUssa, under the
vetted abroad... [and] Canada's pseudonym of Ravennax, posted three
'occupational' needs list will be jokes on the Freedomsite, the most
eliminated and funding to "immigrant controversial being "How to become a
aid" groups wiU be reduced." Lastiy, certified Nigger." The joke was racist,
the poUcy declaration declares that and when questioned about posting it,
Canada is to pull out of the UN and Melissa repUed: "They are funny! I
NATO and wiU only participate in forgot about the 'certified Nigger'
foreign affairs if it is in Canada's one... but it seemed to fit into the
interests and that only "Canadian theme with some of the other jokes..."
citizens wiU be aUowed to access She did not seem to regret posting the
social programs such as Social message, which was originally
Services, Legal Aid, etc." Lemire's forwarded to her from her brother,
handiwork can be identified throughout Chris.
the CHA's poUcy statement.
December was a big month for
Because only a few became the CHA as it went through a dramatic
members of the CHA (providing funds growth spurt, receiving inquiries and
via membership fees), MeUssa and developing links with other racialist
Chris were forced to pay the group's groups. In one email (8 December
expenses, including the registration and 2000), Melissa responded to an
web-space fees for the new site address inquiry, forwarded to her by the
(14 December 2000). MeUssa and Heritage Front (apparently, the HF had
Chris also printed up a large amount of an agreement that they would send
CHA business cards at a local printer, potential members to the CHA and
purchased additional computer vice versa). In her response, Melissa
equipment, and planed to print a stated:
newsletter for January 2001 (which
they subsequendy produced). In a The HF sent us a copy of your
email dated 28 December 2000, email to connect with you. We
Melissa, obviously feeling the impact are a growing group in South
HI

89
R$i

Western Ontario who has many should be connected, even


of the same philosophies as the midly.
HF.
And, finally, in another email (13
In another email (31 December 2000), January 2001), Melissa admits to the
Melissa mentioned that she and Chris level of contact with local racist fwf^i'

met a number of members from the groups: "CECT is in contact with me,
Kitchener-based Tri-City Skins (tri- and Tri-City are in direct contact with
cityskins.com) at Club Abstract, an Chris and I." P5$|

alternative club in Kitchener.


In the end, Lemire, after
With a matter of weeks, hearing from a contact inside the
Melissa and Chris developed a strong Toronto poUce force, cancelled the
association with the TCS and the protest for fear of widespread arrests.
CECT. According to an email from
Melissa (5 January 2001), the CHA On 25 January 2001, the CHA
leaders were in contact with the CECT released Issue 7 of its newsletter. In the
regarding the planned protest of the CHA news section of the newsletter,
same-sex marriages in Toronto on 14 Melissa (who also writes the
January 2001. In the email, Melissa newsletter) welcomed Bud Gallant (of
mentioned that the protestors (CHA Brantford who is also a World Church
and CECT) would wear "civ-clothes, of the Creator representative) as a
so we won't be attacked for being "new person in CHA administration
skins." and a new CHA rep for southern
Ontario." Gallant, who has been active
In another email (cc'd to Marc lemire) in the raciaUst movement for little
regarding the protest (5 January 2001), more than two years, was jjiven an
251
Melissa stated: official CHA email address w

We've been invited to get For several months, Chris and


together with CECT and the Melissa, and the CHA as a whole, were
Tri-City guys on Sat 13th. Marc ignored by the local media and, for the
[to Lemire], James said that most part, remained anonymous. But
you already arranged this. that was about to come to an abrupt
We've all been invited to the end. After HF propaganda was
protest and if we meet Sat night discovered on the campus of the
we can discuss the protest.
They assured me they'U be
University of Waterloo, and CHA
brochures and cards discovered
throughout the downtown cores of
1
going in civ clothes.
Kitchener and Waterloo, the media
In a subsequent email from Melissa (5 quickly picked up on what was going
January 2001), she stated: on. By late February, The Record
wrote two articles on the group, l~ff .

I just emailed James from exposing Melissa as the leader of the


CECT the other day, telling organisation (although she denied
him I liked the new site and I'd being the group's leader in a letter to
like the opportunity to meet if the editor of the The Record).
possible, and perhaps network
if we both feel comfortable. We In March, things got worse for f fi ^ l

are in the same territory, we the group. During a speech sponsored


by CHA and Paul Fromm (the room deny the organisation's mandate of
was booked under the name of CFAR racialism. The links to established
Books) at the Kitchener Holiday Inn on racist groups, such as the Heritage
23 March 2001, the local chapter of the Front, the Canadian Ethnic Cleansing
ARA set-up a dramatic demonstration Team, and the Tri-City Skins is
(both inside and outside of the evidence enough. But beyond those
building). Contrary to reports on the links, it is clear that the group was set
Freedomsite and by CHA up by Melissa and Chris for racialist
representatives, the protest had a reasons and that identified racialists
significant impact on the racialists. (i.e. Lemire and Livingston) were
After the meeting, and under the central to the development of the
watchful eye of local law enforcement, group. In addition, the use of 14 Word
many of the racialists quickly ran to Press pamphlets as CHA propaganda
their cars and sped out of the parking further reinforces the group's mandate
lot, obviously intimidated by the of racialism.
presence of the protestors.

Above: Marc Lemire and Melissa Guille at


Above: Mark Weber making a speech at the the Holiday Inn in Kitchener.
Holiday Inn in Kitchener.
Moreover, Melissa lied to a
In a newspaper article on 27 newspaper reporter regarding Andrew
February 2001, Melissa stated that the GuiUe's involvement. In December
group is a legitimate political 2000, Melissa admitted to me that
organisation and denied that it is a hate Andrew was given a free membership
group, saying that it does not have a in exchange for writing articles (under
racist agenda.252 In the same article, the pseudonym of White Fire) for the
Melissa denied involvement by her group. Melissa and Chris even
youngest brother (Andrew Guille), who contemplated buying Andrew a fax
has been convicted of possession of machine in order to get him more
child pornography. Melissa also denied involved. As of 1 May 2001, Andrew
that the CHA was affiliated with Guille has written three articles for the
established hate groups, although she CHA, they are: "The problem with
did admit to dating Lemire. political movements in Canada," "The
leftist conspiracy," and "Immigration
It is hard to believe that, and labour."
considering the evidence, Melissa can
Above: Fromm speaking at the Holiday Inn
in Kitchener in 2000. Melissa publicly
denied Andrews' involvement in the group.
Alan Lewis (left), Melissa Guille and Marc
Lemire (central), and Andrew Guille (right).

In a letter to editor {The


Record) Melissa also denied being the
leader of the CHA. Considering that
there are only a few members on the
executive of the CHA (including, but
not limited to, Chris Guille, Lemire,
Lewis, and Gallant), and that it appears
as though Lewis and Gallant have done
very little since joining the
organisation, it can be said, within
reason, that MeUssa effectively leads
the CHA by providing much-needed
funds, doing all of the web-design, all
of the initial email contact (during the
organisation's formative stage), writing
the newsletter, registering the website,
and paying for the post office box. Of
course, it should be noted that Chris
has assisted in the development of the
CHA by doing some graphic design,
developing propaganda, and sending
out the membership cards, as well as
paying some of the initial bills. But, it
is obvious that Melissa is the key
figure behind the group, providing
suggestions regarding policy, working
with established racialists to start the
group, and acting as strategist and lead
contact. Without a doubt, the CHA is
Melissa's 'baby.'
spun

_
(.
92
■sp

L. CHAPTER 9, moved to London, Ontario, in 1979.


Intelligence sources indicate that
■PI
From White Pride to Straight Pride: Bergmann's involvement in the far
Bergmann Redefines Himself right movement dates back to the early
1990s and that he was a member of the
IP)
In 1997, Rapheal Bergmann Heritage Front. Bergmann also
was a relatively unknown figure. mentioned that he organised racialist
However, that quickly changed. Since rock concerts in the London area in
the summer of 1998, he has received a 1995 and 1996. According to a source,
tremendous amount of attention from racist rock bands, such as RAHOWA
both the police and the media and Aryan, played to over 250 people
at the concerts, and Bergmann admits
regarding his involvement in protests
of London's Gay Pride events as well that racist skinheads came from as far
as a far right group called the Northern away as Montreal to attend the events.
■pi Alliance, which London police recently Bergmann also claimed that he was an
described as "urban terrorists." avid follower of World Church of the
Creator and was an "acquaintance" of
Bergmann, however, does not George Burdi, the former leader of the
consider himself an urban terrorist, but Canadian WCOTC. When asked about
rather a civil rights activist targeted by his religious leanings, Bergmann only
PPI "politicised police" influenced by admitted that he is "not a Christian."
L special interest groups. Bergmann even
describes himself as a freedom fighter Bergmann further stated that it
IP) and a "proactive libertarian."2 4 And was Holocaust Revisionism which "got
since the summer of 1999, Bergmann him started" in the movement and that
has frequently appeared as he is a close friend of Ernst Zundel,
IP) Straightman, a costume-clad anti gay claiming to be a frequent guest at
rights 'super-hero' who fights for the Zundel's house in Toronto. In addition,
rights of heterosexuals. According to Bergmann referred to himself as a
Bergmann, he is not anti-gay, just pro- "full-blown racial separatist" and
straight. argued that the use of violence is
acceptable to achieve political goals in
Although Bergmann publicly certain circumstances, in particular
portrays himself to be a benevolent when all other avenues have failed.
social and political activist, even going However, he concluded that, due to the
so far as to say that he is empathetic of current social and economic
the gay community in London with conditions, the political mainstream is
regards to civil rights,255 the truth is the "best method for the time-being"
that his good guy, civil liberties image for the movement to succeed. It was
PS! is a clear departure from his far right this realisation that eventually
connections (that include links to the prompted Bergmann to forgo his
Ku Klux Klan and the Heritage Front) organisational duties with the Northern
and his contempt of the homosexual Alliance and lead to the Straight Pride
rights movement - what he often refers movement.
to as homosexual extremism or
256
professional homosexuality. For nearly three years
Bergmann has been the central figure
As mentioned in Scene of the far right movement in London.
■PI Magazine, Raphael Bergmann was According to Bergmann, he started the
born in St. Catherines, Ontario, and Northern Alliance in the fall of 1997 as
a "discussion group." The London Free newsletter and that members were able
Press referred to Bergmann as the to purchase Northern Alliance t-shirts
"group leader" and indicted that the with anti United Nations slogans
"loose-knit" organisation "met weekly printed on them. On several occasions,
at coffee shops and bars to discuss Bergmann referred to the individuals
topics such as politics, racism, who attended the meetings as
immigration, and the Ontario Human "members," stating that much of the
Rights Commission."258 According to group's membership were skinheads
Bergmann, the group, which had and a few of their girlfriends. This
approximately 30 members, met at seems to contradict both Bergmann's
various pubs to talk about politics, public statements (via the media and
Euro-centric themes, and racism news releases) and an article written by
against whites and also to listen to Robert Metz, the president of Ontario's
William Pierce's (leader of the US- Freedom Party. Metz writes (based
based National Alliance) weekly upon testimony from Bergmann and
broadcasts. Bergmann also suggested Tyler Chilcott) that the Northern
that the Northern Alliance acted as a Alliance "no longer exist[s] and ... was
"support group," linking interested never organized in the traditional sense
people up to the movement, and that of the word. According to Bergmann
Wolfgang Droege, the leader of the and Chilcott, there were no members,
Heritage Front remains his mentor. no dues, nor any connections to any
other groups. When active, they simply
According to an article posted held informal political discussions,
on Marc Lemire's Freedomsite, open to anyone who wished to
Bergmann offers the following attend."260
explanation of the Northern Alliance:

It was simply a non-


membership group of
individuals from various ethnic
s torn
backgrounds who gathered on a
weekly basis in London to
discuss issues such as
censorship, immigration,
economics, gay politics,
policing, technology, human
rights commissions ... racism
[and] democracy, even hockey.
We would gather in ethnic
halls, restaurants, bars,
wherever for one hour every
Saturday evening ... and the
meetings themselves were
informal and non-exclusive.

Although Bergmann publicly


argues that the Northern Alliance was Above: Bergmann protests the London
an informal organisation, and that it did
Pride Parade in July 2000.
not have a "real structure," Bergmann
did say that it had a bi-monthly
94

It should be noted that official representative of the Northern


(according to Bergmann) Metz invited Alliance at two Klan rallies in 1997
him to meet with representatives of the and 1998 - one in Erie, Pennsylvania,
MacGregor Society, a group that a n d t h e o t h e r i n A n n A r b o r,
Bergmann referred to as a "secret Michigan.263 If the Northern Alliance
society" of "conservative old-boys" was not a real organisation, one
interested in providing financial wonders why Bergmann felt it
assistance for the civil suit. However, necessary to act as the group's
this has not been confirmed. representative at racist meetings in the
United States.
My criticism of Bergmann's
IP) assertion that the Northern Alliance The Northern Alliance was also
was not an organisation is based upon connected to Paul Fromm, the director
the fact that the Northern Alliance held of the Canadian Association of
regularly scheduled meetings and Freedom of Expression (CAFE).
produced a bi-monthly newsletter. At According to Bergmann, the Northern
its most basic, a group or organisation Alliance twice hosted Fromm in
ipn can be understood as the development London in 1998 and also in February
of a relationship between two or more 1999, the latter event was held at the
people who have a conscious intention London Public Library. Bergmann's
to combine abilities to achieve specific most recent activities with Fromm
goals or who share a common fate. includes a meeting held at the London
Moreover, group identities are Public Library on 25 January 2000, and
ppj symbolised through the use of flags, a speaking engagement at a meeting
anthems, structure, customs, costumes, hosted by Fromm at the Etobicoke
and group names.262 Considering this, Public Library on 25 January 2001.
it can *be argued that the regularity and Fromm is also raising funds to assist
pv
frequency of the Northern Alliances' Bergmann in his lawsuit against the
meetings and publications, in addition London Police Force via C-FAR
to the fact that the attendees (and (Canadian for Foreign Aid Reform).
Bergmann himself) continually refer to But assisting in legal battles is nothing
the Northern Alliance as having a core new for Fromm; as the director of
group of members, warrants the title of CAFE, he gave Scott Brockie a
pp
organisation in the traditional sense of donation to assist in his Ontario
the word, regardless of whether the Human Rights Commission case for
attendees carried membership cards or discrimination against gays.
not. Moreover, the fact that the
individuals involved recognised a bond For the most part, the Northern
or union with the other members, and Alliance amounted to very little,
that this bond was symbolised by the although several members of the group
organisational name of the Northern have been charged with assault and
Alliance, is evidence enough that a other violent crimes.266 The only event
IP)
group did exist. of significance planned by the group
was the initial counter-protest to the
In addition, it was as the leader Gay Pride march in London in 1998.
of the Northern Alliance that According to Bergmann,
Bergmann received at least two approximately 20 people attended the
invitations to participate in Ku Klux protest, almost all were members of the
•pi Klan demonstrations in the United Northern Alliance, and the event
States. In fact, Bergmann spoke as an received limited media coverage.
While small in terms of The events of the summer of
numbers, the initial Straight Pride 1999 proved to be the most significant
protest marks the Northern Alliance's for Bergmann. According to
departure from traditional far right Bergmann, he set up a "Straight-line"
activities (i.e. primarily non-public to inform interested protestors and took
meetings) to well-organised, highly out ads in local newspapers. In total,
publicised events that were specifically Bergmann spent nearly $2,000 on the
designed to secure wide-spread media 1999 Straight Pride march and that,
coverage. Recognising the advantages like the protest in 1998, maintained the
of operating in the public forum, Northern Alliance was not involved.
Bergmann eventually decided to turn However, Bergmann would admit in
much of his attention to further writing that a "few friends" from the
developing the Straight Pride events. Northern Alliance "helped me put on
the Straight Pride walk this summer [in
According to Bergmann, the reference to the protest organised in
Northern Alliance remained in 1999]."268 According to Bergmann,
operation until February 1999. more than 200 people participated in
Although he did not state why the the counter-protest and, with regards to
group disbanded, he did say that the media attention, he considers the
police monitored all of their Straight Pride event to have been a
movements and that the surveillance success.
was an annoyance. "The cops were
always following us," said Bergmann. However, Bergmann's fortune
"We couldn't do a thing without them would change dramatically in the fall
being there." It should be pointed out of 1999 after the police, who had been
that a document on Bergmann's monitoring the development of the
website indicates that he could no Northern Alliance since 1998, sent a
longer organise meetings for the letter to several members of the group.
Northern AUiance due to "athletic and The letter identified the Northern
business commitments." Alliance as having "extreme right wing
beliefs," and requested that the
recipients (who were identified as
Northern Alliance members) attend a
meeting scheduled for 21 November 269
1999, at the London Police Service.
According to the letter, the purpose of
the meeting was to discuss the beliefs
of the group "before releasing any
information" to the public. After being
told by police that lawyers were not
welcome at the meeting (at least this is
what Bergmann maintains), the
recipients of the letter sought the
advice of Metz and eventually decided
not to attend the meeting.

By 2 December 1999, Douglas


Christie, who is also the lawyer for
Above: Bergmann dressed as a clown to Fromm and Zundel, faxed a letter to
'infiltrate' the parade.
Chief of the London Police Service Northern Alliance as "urban terrorists'*
berating the police for asking the and identified the organisation's leader
members of the Northern Alliance to as Raphael Bergmann.270 The article
attend a meeting. Christie wrote: also stated that the Northern Alliance
"recruits members and is potentially
What part of your mandate violent towards members of minority
makes it your responsibility to groups it has targeted." It would be this
"inform and educate the newspaper article, and a follow-up
community"? By what criterion article that appeared on 4 December
have you determined that the 1999,271 that Bergmann would base his
Northern Alliance is an civil suit.
extremist group, and why do
you think they should have to Brian Collins, the Deputy Chief
justify their existence to you at of PoUce (Operations Command and
a meeting called by you to Public Complaints), responded to
"allow you to express your Christie's inquiry on 3 December
point of view"? 1999. In the letter, Collins states that
the "London Police Service is
Christie ended the letter with a dedicated to the spirit of community
warning, noting that he intends to take policing" and that "we [the police] had
the "matter further if we do not receive reason to beUeve, based on very
a satisfactory explanation from you." reUable information, that a group
identified as the Northern Alliance was
operating in London, and that there
was a strong likelihood that the views
and activities of this group would be of
such concern to the community as to
potentially cause breaches of the
peace."27" The letter also states that the
meeting was requested in the "spirit of
community policing," so that the
members of the Northern Alliance
"might have an opportunity to address
any concerns they may have with
regard to our intentions toward them."
The response likely did not satisfy the
requirements of a satisfactory
explanation set forth in Christie's
original fax.

In a letter dated 10 January


Above: Doug Christie, lawyer for many
members of the far rightwing movement, 2001, Barbara Kulaszka, indicating
that she is acting as the solicitor for
speaking at the 2001 Real History, USA
conference in Cincinnati hosted by David Raphael Bergmann, outlined the basis
Irving, a prominent Holocaust revisionist. of the civil litigation for "defamation
and damage to reputation." '
On 3 December 1999, the According to Bergmann, notice was
London Free Press, using information served to David Lucio, Sun Media
from Detective Superintendent Dave Corporation, the Corporation of the
Lucio, ran an article that described the City of London, London Police
97

Services Board, and Hank Daniszewski notion that the movement needed a
and Brodie Fenlon (reporters, London younger, more diplomatic leader, and a
Free Press), on January 11 and 12, more marketable approach - and
2000. The letter argues that the Bergmann argued that the Straight
defamatory statements stem from two Pride events were the perfect method
articles published in the London Free to gain respectability and momentum.
Press on December 3 and 4, 1999, in
which Bergmann is named the leader To further develop the Straight
of the Northern Alliance and that the Pride concept Bergmann needed an
group is potentially violent. The letter infusion of funds, and he would
further states, "The defamatory words achieve this by marketing Straight
underlined in the articles are malicious, Pride clothing and other products to the
false and libellous. Because of the Christian rightwing. Bergmann also
publication of these defamatory words, stated that he was attempting to secure
Mr. Bergmann's personal reputation funds from US-based Christian groups,
has been severely damaged." but he did not provide further
details.276 Bergmann also admitted that
By March 2000, Bergmann was Fromm had set him up with several
instructed by his lawyer to 'lay low/ sponsors.
He was also told to "play down the
racialist aspect of the 'Northern On 25 June 2000, Bergmann
Alliance' to kosher level," indicating appeared at Queen's Park for a
that the lawsuit is in the "millions" and demonstration, but this time he was
that he does not want to jeopardise his dressed in a tight-blue superhero outfit,
274
chance for success and referred to himself as Straightman.
According to the Straight Pride
By the time I met with website, the demonstration was to be
Bergmann on 11 March 2000, the broadcast live on the Internet by
situation changed. At the meeting, Lemire, that several speakers were
Bergmann stated that his real plan was scheduled, that a Jamaican vacation
to make it look as though the Northern was to be given away, and that the
Alliance "faded away" in order to protestors were to go on a Stride 2K
avoid police scrutiny. He also march in the direction of the Gay Pride
mentioned that Tyler Chilcott was to event on Church Street. In the end,
take over the group as an interim leader only Bergmann would speak and the
and operate it in secret, but that this Jamaican vacation was never given
part of the plan had not worked out. As away - at least there was no public
a result, Bergmann decided that he announcement that someone won the
wanted to re-start the Northern trip.
Alliance once the lawsuit was finished.
Bergmann later stated: "The Northern Contrary to Bergmann's
Alliance must advisedly stay dead, as estimated "several thousand"
275
long as the lawsuit is engaged." protestors,277 only 40 people showed
up at the protest. And while several
Although his lawyers advised politicians were invited to attend the
him against any public appearances, Straight Pride event, the only person of
Bergmann eventually decided to political significance at the event was
organise two more protests in 2000, Paul Blair, the Executive Officer of the
one in Toronto and the other in Freedom Party of Ontario, who handed
London. Motivating Bergmann was the out party brochures and his card to
protestors. The police, who were also
on the scene, told Bergmann (as he Later in July Bergmann left for
appeared to be the organiser of the Russia. On 26 July 2000, he said that
event) to stay within the boundaries of he was going to promote Straight Pride
Queen's Park, or that he, and the Incorporated and his Freedom Fighter
protestors, would be arrested. The website.278 Bergmann also remarked
protestors co-operated and, after a that he wanted to get a photograph of
quick march around the park, went himself urinating on the tomb of Lenin
home. It should also be noted that and that he was worried about getting
several of the skinheads in attendance arrested.
were carrying concealed weapons,
including knives, and were looking for In late January 2001, the
a fight. Straight Pride website featured
photographs of Bergmann dressed as
Straightman in Moscow. According to
the website, Bergmann was invited to
Russia to participate in the World
Peace Conference to promote family
culture.

Since returning from Russia,


Bergmann has limited his public
appearances, speaking at a meeting
organised by Fromm on 25 January
Above: Bergmann with some of his 2001, and attending a meeting co-
Straightpride supporters in Toronto. sponsored by CFAR and the Canadian
Heritage Alliance in Kitchener on 23
Although Bradley Beardy is March 2001. It appears as though he is
said to be the President of Straight now taking the advice of his lawyers
Pride Incorporated, at least this is what and is remaining out of the public
is written on the website as of 25 June forum so not to jeopardise the lawsuit
2000, it is clear that Bergmann is the against the London Police Service.
actual leader of the organisation. At
one point Bergmann admitted to me Because the Straight Pride site
that, while he is not the "president," he has been "temporarily offline" for
does "handle" all of the public and several weeks, one must wonder if
media relations. Bergmann has plans to protest at any of
the Gay Pride events in the Toronto
On 9 July 2000, Bergmann area in 2001. Certainly, Bergmann has
planned to protest the Gay Pride tried to shed his former racialist image
march. According to Bergmann, his for a more marketable approach, one
plan was to sneak into the march by that centre's on combating (what he
wearing a clown-outfit and then, at a terms as) "homosexual extremism,"
pre-determined point, take off the and, if he wants his new image to be a
outfit to reveal his Straightman success, he will attempt to gain some
costume underneath. Once again, media attention during the summer of
Bergmann was acting as the organiser 2001. Only time will tell, however, if
of the Staight Pride protest and he Bergmann will pursue his career as
invited Lemire along to videotape the Straightman.
99

Chapter Notes 19 The Northern Foundation is a rightwing


1 This section was originally published by think-tank based in Ottawa with connections to
racist skinhead groups.
Canadian Content online magazine at 20 Security Intelligence Review Committee,
www.trackO.com/cc.
2 E.D. Nelson and Augie Fleras, Social The Heritage Front Affair: Report to the
Solicitor General (Ottawa: SIRC, December 9,
Problems in Canada: Issues and Challenges
1994), 12.
(Scarborough: Prentice Hall, 1995). 21 George Burdi is the former leader of the
3 H. Fry, "Message from the Secretary of State
Canadian section of the World Church of the
(Multiculturalism)," online: Creator. Burdi also became the lead singer of
<http://www.pch.gc.ca/multi/message_e.shtml RAHOWA and started Resistance Records, a
> (date accessed: 30 November 2001).
4 Statistics Canada, Hat Crime in Canada: An white power record label.
22 Bill Dunphy, "Why white racist cells fail in
Overview of Issues and Data Sources (Ottawa:
Canada," The Hamilton Spectator, 14 October
Ministry of Industry, 2001), 25. 1999.
5 In 1993, a total of 155 hate-motivated
23 Statistics Canada, Hate Crime in Canada:
incidents were reported. In 1999, that total
An Overview of Issues and Data Sources
climbed to 292. "1999 Hate Bias Crime
Statistical Report," on-line: Toronto Police (Ottawa: Ministry of Industry, 2001), 11.
24 Statistics Canada, 8.
Service 25 "Anti-Semitic Incidents in Canada: Principle
<http://www.torontopoliceservice.com> (date Cities Affected, 1994," on-line: NIZKOR
accessed: 30 November 2001).
6 Nelson and Fleras, 251. Project homepage <http://www.nizkor.org>
7 Dinseh D'Souza, The End of Racism: (date accessed: 5 December 01).
26 "Anti-Semitic Incidents, Canada 1982-
Principles for a Multicultural Society (New
1994," on-line: NIZKOR Project homepage
York: The Free Press).
8 In Canada, the relevant sections of the <http://www.nizkor.org> (date accessed: 5
December 01).
criminal code are S. 318 (Advocating 27 "Hate Crimes in Ottawa: Target Categories"
Genocide), S. 319 (Public Incitement of
on-line: NIZKOR Project homepage
Hatred), and S. 718 (extended sentencing) and
sections of the Canadian Human Rights Act are <http://www.nizkor.org> (date accessed: 5
December 01).
Sections 12 (Publication of Discriminatory 28 Alanna Mitchell, "Arab Canadians Duck to
Notices) and Section 13 (Hate Messages).
9 Nelson and Fleras.
10 Alan Davies (ed), Antisemitism in Canada:
Avoid Harassment," The Globe and Mail, 14
September
29 "Interim01.
Report Card on Anti-Muslim Hate,
1
History and Interpretation (Waterloo: Wilfrid
Laurier University Press). September 11th, 2001 through November 15th,
11 Although the Canadian government banned 2001," on-line: CAIRCAN Homepage:
the fascist groups during the Second World <http://caircan.ca> (date accessed: 5 December
War and interned its leadership, the groups re 2001).
30 Will Gibson, "The Far-right Fallout,"
appeared in the early 1960s and continue to Macleans Magazine, 3 December 2001.
exist today in a variety of forms. 31 "A Canada First Blueprint for Dealing with
12 The federal government finally offered a
formal apology to Japanese-Canadians on 22 Terrorism," on-line: Freedomsite Homepage
<http://www.freedomsite.org/pipermail/fs_ann
September 1988 and provided a compensation ounce/2001/000663.html> (date accessed: 1
package totalling $291. December 2001).
13 Nelson and Fleras, 265.
32 "A Canada First Blueprint for Dealing with
14 Stanley Barrett, "Fascism in Canada,"
Terrorism," on-line: Freedomsite Homepage
Contemporary Crisis 8 (1984): 345-377.
15 P.S. Li, "Racial Supremacism under Social <http://www.freedomsite.org/pipermail/fs_ann
ounce/2001/000663.html> (date accessed: 1 PSP8

Democracy," Canadian Ethnic Studies, December 2001).


XXVII, (1995): 1-17. 33 "A Canada First Blueprint for Dealing with
16 Nelson and Fleras, 325.
17 Stanley Barrett, 60. Terrorism," on-line: Freedomsite Homepage
18 From the Western Guard's newsletter, <http://www.freedomsite.org/pipermail/fs_ann
ounce/2001/000663.html> (date accessed: 1
Straight Talk. Cited in Stanley Barrett, Is God
December 2001).
a Racist? The Far Right in Canada (Toronto: 34 John Gray, "Far Right Using Web to Whip
University of Toronto Press, 1987), 85.
Up Hostility to Chinese Migrants," The Globe
and Mail, 30 August 1999.
100

35 Li, 1-17. 52 Respondent socio-economic status (self-


36 Karen Mock addressed an audience at the declared): 16.6% working class, 25% upper
University of Waterloo on 22 November 01 working class, 41.6% middle class, 16.6%
about racism in Canada. Terry Pender, upper middle class, and 0% upper class.
53 Seymour M. Lipset and E. Raab, The
"Racism on Rise, UW Audience Told," The K-
W Record, 23 November 01. Politics of Unreason: Right-wing Extremism in
37 Nelson and Fleras, 248. America, 1790-1970 (New York: Harper and
38 By extreme rightwing, I am referring to the Row, 1970).
54 Nigel Fielding, The National Front (London:
section of the radical far right political
spectrum normally occupied by overtly racist Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1981), 14.
55 Ehud Sprinzak, "Right-wing Terrorism in a
nationalist groups that espouse the use of
violence to achieve a specific end. Within the Comparative Perspective: The Case of Split
'|R context of this study, groups on the radical far Delegitimization," in Terror from the Extreme
right are also referred to as white racial Right, ed. T. Bjorgo (London: Frank Cass,
supremacist, racial nationalist, neo-Nazi 1995).
56 Thomas Robbins, Cults, Converts and
skinhead, or fascist.
IP 39 Peter S. Li, "Racial Supremacism under Charisma: The Sociology* of New Religious
Social Democracy," Canadian Ethnic Studies Movements (London: Sage, 1988), 85.
57 Although some former members report that
XXVII, 1995.
40 Li, 1-17.
group leaders attempted to restrict extra-group
41 Cas Muddle, The Ideology of the Extreme relationships, surveys indicate this was rare.
58 Dinitia Smith, "The women behind the
Right (Manchester Manchester University
Press, 2000), 10. masks of hate," The New York Times, 26
42 Christopher Flood, "Organizing Fear and January 2002.
,j!P$
59 Although racial extremist groups target
Indignation: The Front National in France," in
Fascism's Return: Scandal Revision, and young people for recruitment, there is no
Ideology since 1980, ed. R.J. Golsan (Lincoln: indication that they attempt to recruit alienated
University of Nebraska Press, 1998). youth. However, evidence does exist indicating
43 Leonard Weinburg, "The American Radical that socially alienated young people are more
Right in Comparative Perspective," in The susceptible to recruitment campaigns. That is,
Revival of the Right-Wing Extremism in the the racial extremist group satisfies the specific
Nineties, eds. P. H. Merkl and L. Weinburg needs of marginalized individuals, namely that
(London: Frank Cass, 1997), 235. of the desire for extended social contact.
44 Conversation with Wolfgang Droege took
Typical recruitment methods include the use of
place on 21 September 1998 in Toronto. stickers or business-style cards left in high
45 "Who qualifies as white?" on-line: Tri-City traffic areas such as washrooms in secondary
Skin's Homepage <http://www.tri- schools or at bus stops.
60 Richard Wolin, "Designer Fascism," in
cityskins.com> (date accessed 25 January
1PR 2002). Fascism's Return: Scandal, Revision, and
46 "Frequently asked Questions," on-line:
Ideology since 1980,ed. R.J. Golsan (Lincoln:
National Alliance in Canada Homepage University of Nebraska Press, 1998) pp. 48-62.
61 Nigel Fielding, The National Front (London:
<http://www.natall.ca> (date accessed: 15
ip Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1981), 47.
January 2002). with Wolfgang Droege took
47 Conversation 62 John Schwarzmantel, The Age of Ideology:
place on 21 September 1998 in Toronto. Political Ideologies from the American
48 Muddle, 172. Revolution to Post-Modern Times
ppi 49 Jeffrey Kaplan, "Rightwing Violence in
(Houndmills: MacMillian, 1991) 144.
63 Some former members indicate that they
North America," in Terror from the Extreme
Right, ed. T. Bjorgo (London: Frank Cass, received death threats during the withdrawal
1995). process or that leaders would encourage other
50 "Frequently asked Questions," on-line: members to make contact and pressure them to
National Alliance in Canada Homepage return to the group. It is not uncommon for
<http://www.natall.ca> (date accessed: 15 group leaders to publicly declare that those
January 2002). who leave the movement are 'race traitors' and
51 "Frequently asked Questions," On-line: that they 'let their friend's down.'
64 Sprinzak, pp. 17-43.
Heritage Front Homepage 65 This statistic is deceiving as much of the
<http://www.freedomsite.org/hf> (date
accessed: 15 January 2002). Heritage Front's leadership is over 35 years of
age whereas the vast majority of members (i.e.
101

90 Staff (Summer 2001). Reevaluating the net.


followers and activists) are under 29 years of
age. If leaders were removed from the sample, Intelligence Report, p. 54.
91 Staff (Summer 2001). Reevaluating the net.
the average age is 22.1 years of age. The
Heritage Front is dramatically different from Intelligence Report, p. 55.
92 Staff (Summer 2001). Reevaluating the net
other racial extremist groups in that it attempts
to include a number of age groups by offering
an outlet (for frustration) for young people
while providing leadership roles for older,
Intelligence Report, p. 55.
93 Bloom, Linda (October 2,2000). As Internet

grows, so does the number of hate sites. United


1
more mature, members. Methodist News Service.
66 David K. Banner and Elaine Gagne, 94 Staff (Winter 2000). Hate groups on the
Internet. Intelligence Report. Pp. 36-39.
Designing Effective Organizations: Traditional 95 Martin, Richard (February 1998). Web of
and Transformational Views (California: Sage,
1995), 5. hate: Soldiers of bigotry march online. Pretext
61 Ibid, 5. Magazine.
68 Ibid, 6. 96 Other researchers have estimated the
69 Ibid, 6. Heritage Front to be between 1,500 and 1,800
70 Ibid, 154. members. However, a former member
71 D. Cartwright, Group Dynamics (Michigan: indicates that the number of members in the
publisher unsigned, 1962), 170. group was always embellished in order to
72 Michael Domjan and Barbara Burkhard, The make the Heritage Front appear larger and that
the real number was approximately 600
Principles of Learning and Behaviour (Pacific
Grove: Brooks/Cole, 1986), 245. members.
73 Banner and Gagne, 294. 97 Bloom, Linda (October 2,2000). As Internet
74 Cartwright grows, so does the number of hate sites. United
75 This section was originally published online Methodist News Service.
98 Stephen Spiesman, "Antisemitism in
by Canadian Content at www.trackO.com/cc.
76 Staff (July 8,1999). Child-friendly, racist Ontario: The Twentieth Century," in Anti-
indoctrination on Internet. CNNCom Semitism in Canada: History and
77 Davidson, Ross (November 16,1998). Web Interpretation, ed. A. Davies (Waterloo:
of hate. News Real. Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 1992).
78 Davidson, Ross (November 16,1998). Web "Ibid, 114-115.
m Ibid, 115. P^|
of hate. News Real. 101 Ibid., 117.
79 Richardson, Sandee (June 28,1998). Net
102 Marilyn F. Nefsky, "The Shadow of Evil:
spreads message, draws in recruits.
Montgomery Advertiser. Nazism and Canadian Protestantism," in Anti-
80 Martin, Richard (February 1998). Web of Semitism in Canada: History and
hate: Soldiers of bigotry march online. Pretext Interpretation, ed. A. Davies (Waterloo:
Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 1992), 208-
Magazine.
81 Staff (July 26,2001). Household Internet use 209.
103 Spiesman, 127.
survey. The Daily. 104 Stanley R. Barrett, Is God a Racist? The
82 Staff (July 26,2001). Household Internet use
survey. The Daily. Right Wing in Canada. (Toronto: University of
83 Richardson, Sandee. (June 28,1998). Net Toronto Press, 1987), 26.
105 After the Canadian Nazi Party disbanded,
spreads message, draws in recruits.
Montgomery Advertiser. Beattie teamed up with John Ross Taylor (who
84 Abel, David Schwab. (1998, February 19- led the Western Guard in the late 1970s) to
25). The racist next door. New Times. form the short-lived anti-immigrant British
85 Duke, Daivid (no date). The coming of the
People's League. A stalwart of the rightwing
white revolution: Born on the Internet. movement, Beattie organised neo-Nazi
86 Staff (July 8,1999). Child-friendly, racist
gatherings in 1988 and 1989 on his property in
indoctrination on Internet. CNN.Com Minden, Ontario. His second gathering, called
87 Staff. (Summer 2001). Reevaluating the net. "Save Our Canada Day Festival," attracted
Intelligence Report, p. 54. more than 200 racial activists from Toronto,
88 Staff (Spring 2001). Cyberhate revisited. i^si
Ottawa, Montreal, and New York State and
Intelligence Report, pp. 44-45. resulted in a large cross being burned in
89 Martin, Richard (February 1998). Web of celebration of the Aryan race.
106 Barrett, 62.
hate: Soldiers of bigotry march online. Pretext
107 Cited in Barrett, 85
Magazine.
102

108 Although Droege only joined the rightwing 138 Adrian Humphreys, "A life once soured by
PS! movement in 1972, he quickly became a hate finds sweet understanding," National
leading figure of group, travelling across Post, 29 July 1999.
139 One of the most successful concerts was
Canada and the United States as an official
representative. organised by Raphael Bergmann, a Heritage
■n 109 Barrett, 93-94. Front member and leader of the Northern
m Ibid, 95. Alliance, in London in 1996.
1,1 Up Front, April 1995. 140 Renee Huang, "White supremacist literature

112Barrett, 111. horrifies Kingston pub owner," Kingston Whig


113 This section was originally published online Standard 21 July 1998.
141 According to some theorists, the Heritage
by Canadian Content at www.trackO.com/cc.
1,4 Kinsella, 1995,240. Front was not a monolithic organisation, rather
IP
115 In comparison, the KKK has an estimated it consisted of a number of independent groups
300 members in British Columbia. or cells that performed activities without the
116 Droege remained leader of the KKK in knowledge of the larger group and could be
Canada until 1988. considered more of a loose-knit association
jpi^ 117 Warren Kinsella, Web of Hate: Inside working towards common goals identified by
Canada's Far Right Network (Toronto: the leadership.
142 Marc Lemire, "Eco-Guard: What can you
HarperPerennial, 1995), 257.
1.8 Ibid, 239. do to save the environment?" Up Front, March
1.9 Ibid, 257. 1993: 20-21.
120 Ibid., 257. 143 Bill Dunphy, a writer for the Hamilton
121 Warren Kinsella, 1992. Spectator, speculates that Lemire's hotline was
122 Ibid., 104.
m
, simply a part of a larger plan developed by the
123 Kinsella, 1992. leaders of the Heritage Front to saturate the
124 The Heritage Front Affair: Report to the Canadian Human Rights Commission with
Solicitor General of Canada 9 December 1994, complaints, therefore bogging down the
m
p Security Intelligence Review Committee File # Commission's investigative capacity.
144 Lemire trained as a medic and spent the
2800-54.
125 The Northern Foundation has been in summer at Petawawa, Ontario.
145 According to the affidavit, Lemire was

r operation since the early 1980's and its


president, Anne Hartman, was expelled from
the Reform Party in 1992 for her racist views.
In April 1992, Paul Fromm spoke at a special
instructed to monitor the Klanbusters hotline
and to collect the names and phone numbers of
the individuals who left messages. Lemire was
then asked to call the people who left messages
gathering organised by the Northern
Foundation to celebrate Adolf Hitler's and pretend to be a member of Klanbusters in
birthday. order to acquire additional information such as
126 The Heritage Front, 1995. addresses.
127 Court File No. T-567-96. 146 Mark Electric, "Heritage Front - Online,"
128 The COTC changed its name to the World Up
147Front, September
Jeff Lee, 1995, provider
"B.C. Internet 16. is the
Church of the Creator (WCOTC) in the mid-
1990s. largest Canadian site for racialist material,"
129 Kinsella, 1995,279. The Vancouver Sun, 19 July 1996.
130 Clive Thompson, "I hate you back," This 148 Anonymous, "Hate on the Internet

Magazine, November 1994. investigated," The Vancouver Sun, 19 July


131 Court File No. T-567-96. 1996.
132 Gary Schipper was the public relations co 149 Rub Munro, "Oliver man stands by his

ordinator for the Heritage Front. decision to give groups and outlet for material
133 Kinsella, 1995,289. branded racist," Penticton Herald, 23 July
psi 134 The Heritage Front Affair: Report to the 1996.
150 Declan McCullagh, "The great white
Solicitor General of Canada 9 December 1994,
Security Intelligence Review Committee File # north," Hotwired, 29 July 1996.
151 Michael Newman, "Hate Capital of
2800-54.
135 Less than a month later Burdi was charged Canada," The Oliver Chronicle, 24 July 1996.
152 "Neo-Fascists defeated in Ontario election,"
with assault and spent nearly a year in jail upon
his conviction in 1995. on-line: Bethune Institute Homepage
136 Kinsella, 1995, 292-293. <http://www.bethuneinstitute.org> (date
■m 137 Anonymous, "The mess leaks out," Covert accessed: 18 December 2001).
Action, Winter 1994-1995, Number 51.

^pPfy
103
1
153 "Freedom-site beats massive DOS attack," 171 The NSF website is located at:
on-line: Freedomsite Homepage www.whitevictory.com.
172 The database is located at: www.ara-
<http://www.freedomsite.org/text/freedomsite_
db.com.
dos_attack.html> (date accessed: 18 December 173 RAHOWA is an abbreviation for Racial
2001).
154 The Right Turn for Nova Scotia website is Holy War.
174 Richardson was arrested in the fall of 2001.
owned by a group called the Halifax Citizen
League and is located at http://nsright.cjb.net. The TCS held a fundraiser to assist in his legal
Currently, the site domain points to the costs.
175 Affordable-space.com hosts a number of
Freedomsite homepage.
155 The White Power Porno Pages was a page white power websites including: tri-
containing a small collection of naked women. cityskins.com, whitepower.ws,
156 Jonathan Gatehouse, "Anti-immigrant tommetzger.net, resistcom, micetrap.net,
extremist has good ideas, MP says," National whitepride.com, till-attack.com,
Post, 18 June 2001. torontoskins.com, wp-personals.com,
157 Free Speech Monitor, October 2000. racehate.com,
158 Free Speech Monitor, October 2000. http://canadianhooligans.whitepride.com, vox-
159 Guille and Lemire started dating shortly candidi.com, whitevictory.com,
after meeting in October. The relationship nsfcanada.com, hatecore88.com,
ended abruptly in December 2000. hatecentral.net, toronto-police.com,
160 David Duke also moved his base of torontoskinheads.com, ara-db.com,
vinlandvoice.com, cnfront.org, wpcect.com,
operations to Russia during the same period
and Raphael Bergmann visited the country in eannews.com, combatl8.com,

1
late summer 2000. whitepower.com, racerecords.com,
161 Henderson Hospital was chosen for the nocturnalfear.com, toowhiteforyou.com,
psychobitchl488.com, 88rockandroll.com,
flyer drop because a Congolese visitor was
taken there after she became ill on a flight to anpforum.org, americannazipaity.org, and
Canada. aryankindred.com. This is not
176 James Scott Richardson a complete
used list.of
the aliases
162 "Heritage Front warns Hamilton residents
of health threat posed by immigration," on James Scott, White Power, and Cox88.
177 Anonymous, "Racist death threats cited
line: Freedomsite Homepage
<http://www.freedomsite.org> (date accessed vigilance urged after London man charged,"
12 February 2001). London Free Press, 2 October 2001.
163 One of the individuals distributing the 178 A news release from Alex Krause on 16
December 2002 indicated that he was leaving
pamphlet later revealed that the group only
the CECT to form the North American Culture
distributed 1000 to 1500 flyers.
164 The temporary website is located at: and Heritage Party.
179 "Vinland Voice Issue 14," on-line: CECT
www.freedomsite.org/test.
165 "Clueless, wacky neo-Nazis rip off CWD," Homepage <http://www.wpcect.com> (date fR-ji

accessed: 27 December 2001).


on-line: Canadian World Domination 180 Hank Daniszewski, "Web site suspect
Homepage <http://www.standonguard.com>
(date accessed 19 June 2001). charged," London Free Press, 1 February
166 Kate Schwass, "White power site steals 2002.
181 The CHA recently posted a requested on its
Web content," Imprint, 25 March 2001.
167 As of 1 March 2002, the Heritage Front website asking people to donate money to
shows little sign of life. Once the largest Kulbashian's defence fund.
182 Police arrested a skinhead at the scene for
racialist group in Canada, the group is on the
carrying a concealed weapon.
verge of collapse. It currently exists only in 183 A leader of the TCS recently confirmed that
website.
168 There are two types of skinhead groups: the group's association with Kulbashian,
racist and non-racist. For the purpose of this indicating that he was in Kitchener-Waterloo
on a number of occasions.
study, all references to skinhead groups or 184 As of 1 November 2001.
skinhead activity implies racially motivated 185 This post office box was closed in
behaviour or race-based skinhead groups.
169 As of 01 March 2002, the Toronto Skins September 2001.
186 The Frontl4.org website was taken down in
domain points to the NSF Canada website at:
www.nsfcanada.com. late 2001.
187 Email dated 25 December 2000.
170 The group claims to have chapters in each
city.
104
IP

188 From the London Free Press, 30 August France," in Fascism's Return: Scandal,
2000. Revision, and Ideology since 1980, (Lincoln:
189 It should be noted that Marc Lemire can be University of Nebraska Press, 1998).
211 Barrett, 1987, 11.
seen (with a video camera) in the background. 212 Ebata, 17.
Lemire was present to videotape Bergmann's 213 Barrett, 1987, 75-77.
planned disturbance of the parade. 2.4 Ibid., 199.
190 Guelph is not immune to racist activities. In
2.5 Ibid, 190.
1990, George Burdi, then leader of the Church 2.6 Ibid, 194.
of the Creator, organised a meeting featuring 217 Editorial, Times Colonist, 1 September
Paul Fromm at the Albion Hotel. In addition, a
1999.
prominent leader of the Heritage Front owned 218
a store in downtown Guelph in the mid-1990s, Flood, 19.
219
effectively using it as a contact point for local Li, 3.
220 John Gray, "Far right using Web to whip up
skinheads.
191 This chapter was originally published online hostility to Chinese migrants," The Globe and
by Canadian Content in March 2002. Mail, 30 August 1999.
m 192 Anthony H. Richmond, "Refugees and 221 Citizens for Foreign Aid Reform

Racism in Canada," Refuge 6 (2001): 12-20. Newsletter, January 15,2001.


193 Peter S. Li, "Racial Supremacism under 222 Canada First Immigration Reform

Social Democracy," Canadian Ethnic Studies Committee, September 18,2000.


ip 223 Raphael Bergmann, "If anyone should be
No. 1 (1995): 9.
194 Michi Ebata, "Right-Wing Extremism: In proud, it should be straight people," London
Search of a Definition," in The Extreme Free Press, 23 July 1999.
224 Hank Daniszewski and Brodie Fenlon,
zip Rrright: Freedom and Security at Risk, eds. A.
Braun and S. Scheinberg (Boulder: Westview, "Cops fear racism may ignite," The London
1997). Free Press, 3 December 1999.
195 Peter H. Merkl, "Why are they So Strong 225 The Northern Alliance was in operation

Now: Comparative Reflections on the Rival of from 1997 through early 1999. The group
the Radical Right in Europe," in The Revival of eventually halted activity after it was
the Right-Wing Extremism in the Nineties, eds. discovered that law enforcement agencies were
P. Merkl and Leonard Weinberg (London: monitoring their activities. Raphael Bergmann,
Frank Cass, 1997). personal communication, 12 April 2000.
196 Li, 2. 226 Raphael Bergmann, personal
197 IbULA. communication, 11 March 2000.
198 Stanley Barrett, 1987,29-30. 227 Raphael Bergmann, personal
199 Ibid, 29-31. communication, 20 April 2000.
228 Canadian Heritage Alliance, "Canadian
200/^.,33.
201 Ibid, 11. Heritage Alliance Statement," online:
AH-I 202 Ibid, 30-33. Canadian Heritage Alliance
203 Ibid, 30. <http://www.canadianheritagealliance.com/abo
204 Ibid, 28. ut/statement.html> (date accessed: 30 October
205 Stephen Scheinberg, "Canada: Right-Wing 2001).
■P
I 229 Brian Caldwell, "White supremacists active
Extremism in the Peacable Kingdom," in The
Extreme Rrright: Freedom and Security at in K-W," The Record, 24 February 2001.
230 Brian Caldwell, "'Not promoting hate,'"
Risk, eds. A. Braun and S. Scheinberg
(Boulder: Westview, 1997). The Record, 27 February 2001.
206 Barrett, 1987, 35. 231
Ibid.
207 Kinsella, 1995, 272. 232 Marc Lemire took over from Wolfgang
208 Ebata, 17.
Droege as National Director of the Heritage
2091 find the use of the term fringe to describe Front on 1 January 2001.
ISP 233 Canadian Heritage Alliance, "Canadian
a portion of a counter-cultural movement
already on the margins (i.e. fringe) of society Heritage Alliance Statement," online:
lacking in accuracy and clarity. Canadian Heritage Alliance
2,0 Christopher uses the term "national
i PI <http://www.canadianheritagealliance.com/abo
populist" to describe the neo-fascist movement ut/policies.html> (date accessed: 30 October
in Europe that uses immigration and economic 2001).
234 Jonathon Gatehouse, "Anti-immigrant
issues to encourage discrimination and
■HI extremist has good ideas, MP says," The
racism. See Christopher Flood, "Organizing
Fear and Indignation: The National Front in National Post, 18 June 2001.

ip
105

235 Ibid 258 Brodie Fenlon, "London police violating


236 Barrett, 1987,199. rights, group charges," London Free Press, 4
237 Rubin Friedman, "Paul Fromm foils to December 1999, A3.
259 Bergmann, Raphael, "Who wins and who
incite at 'Unite the Right,'" The Jewish
Tribune, 25 February 1999. loses? The opinion of Raphael Bergmann," 7
238 Raphael Bergmann, personal December 1999, (Available from CAFE).
260 Robert Metz, "Free society threatened by
communication, 15 July 2000.
239 Warren Kinsella, Kickin Ass in Canadian bizarre police behaviour" [Letter to the editor].
Politics (Toronto: Random House). Scene Magazine, 27 January 2000,4. MSSJi

240 Gatehouse. 261 David K. Banner and Elaine Gagme,


241 Marc Lemire, personal communication, 18 Designing Effective Organisations: Traditional
June 2001. and Transformational Views (California: Sage
242 Kevin Michael Grace, "The urge to purge Publications, 1995). fB$
262 Stephen Worchel et al., Social Identity:
returns," Report Magazine, 20 November
2000. International Perspectives (London: Sage
243 The Free Speech Monitor, October 2000. Publications, 1982).
244 Security Intelligence Review Committee 263 R. Bergmann (personal communication,
March 11,2000)
[SIRC], The Heritage Front Affair, (Ottawa: 264 P. Fromm (personal communication,
Security Intelligence Review Committee,
Alternative Forum announcement, January
1999).
245 Ibid, 59. 2001)
246 The Canadian Heritage Alliance website is 265 Canadian Association for the Freedom of

located at www.canadianheritagealliance.com. Expression. Free Speech Monitor (2000


247 Anonymous, "'Nationalist group' denies November). f«S|
266 Hank Daniszewski and Brodie Fenlon,
racist agenda," The Toronto Star, 27 February
2001. "Cops fear racism may ignite. London Free
248 Brian Caldwell, "Leader of white Press. 3 December 1999, A3.
267 Bergmann, R. (2000). Notice of Service.
supremacy group says it doesn't have a racist
agenda," Kitchener-Waterloo Record, 27 Unpublished document.
268 Bergmann 7 December 1999.
February 2001. 269 D.R. Lucio (personal communication,
249 The original name for the organisation was
to be the National Heritage Alliance but was November 1, 1999)
270 Daniszewski and Fenlon, A3.
changed for marketability reasons. 271 Brodie. p. A3.
250 The CHA officially went online via the
272 B. Collins (personal communication,
Freedomsite on 19 November 2000. A post
office box was also opened in Cambridge on December 3,1999)
273 B. Kulaszka (personal communication,
the same day.
251 Bud Gallant was given the email address of January 10,2000)
274 R. Bergmann (personal communication,
bud@canadianheritagealliance.com.
252 Brian Caldwell, "Leader of white March 7,2000)
275 R. Bergmann (personal communication,
supremacy group says it doesn't have a racist
agenda," Kitchener-Waterloo Record, 27 April 19,2000)
276 R. Bergmann (personal communication,
February 2001.
253 Andrew, the youngest of the GuiUe's, March 11,2000)
277 R. Bergmann (personal communication,
attended the December 8th, 2000, meeting co-
June 16,2000)
sponsored by Fromm at the Kitchener Holiday 278 R. Bergmann (personal communication,
Inn at which University of Western Ontario
professor, Phillip Rushton, was the guest July 26,2000)
speaker.
254 Barry Wells, "Bergmann puts the cops and
the Free Press on notice." Scene Magazine, 14
January 2000, 14-15.
255 Ibid, 14-15.
256 Bergmann, R. (2000). Notice of Service.
Unpublished document.
257 R. Bergmann (personal communication,
March 11,2000)
TABLE 1 - Paul Fromm: Recent Activities in Southwest Ontario
Background

Paul Fromm has been involved in the far rightwing movement since 1967
UP
when he started the Edmunde Burke Society with Leigh Smith and Don Andrews. In
the 1990s, Fromm spoke at a number of Heritage Front meetings in Toronto. Fromm
currently serves as the director of a number of related groups, including the Canada
First Immigration Reform Committee (CFIRC), the Canadian Association for the
Freedom of Expression (CAFE), and the Canadian for Foreign Aid Reform (C-FAR),
and hosts meetings across Canada (usually under the banner of Alternative Forum).
IP

Note: This is not a complete list.


PH Date Host Location
25 January 2000 CAFE London Public Library
4 April 2000 Alternative Forum Hungarian House, 840 St. Clair
Ave, West, Toronto
IPI
12 May 2000 Alternative Forum Hungarian House, 840 St. Clair
Ave, West, Toronto
13 May 2000 Alternative Forum Holiday Inn, 30 Fairview Road,
SI) Kitchener
15 June 2000 Alternative Forum Hungarian House, 840 St. Clair
Ave, West, Toronto
18 July 2000 Alternative Forum Royal Canadian Legion, 3326
Bloor Street, West, Toronto
21 August 2000 Alternative Forum Royal Canadian Legion, 3326
Bloor Street, West, Toronto
5 October 2000 Alternative Forum NA
6 October 2000 Alternative Forum Holiday Inn, 30 Fairview Road,
Kitchener
12 November 2000 Alternative Forum Canadiana Restaurant, Six
OPS
Points Plaza, 5230 Dundas St.,
West, Toronto
7 December 2000 Alternative Forum NA
8 December 2000 Alternative Forum Holiday Inn, 30 Fairview Road,
Kitchener
25 January 2001 Alternative Forum Richview Branch, Etobicoke
Public Library, 1806 Islington
Ave, North
I P
16 February 2001 CAFE Grantham Public Library, St.
Catherines
23 March 2001 CFIRC Holiday Inn, 30 Fairview Road,
Kitchener
28 June 2001 Alternative Forum The Muskett, 40 Advance Drive,
Toronto
12 September 2001 NA The Radisson Hotel, Kitchener

PP
TABLE 2 - The Far Rightwing Movement: Area of Operation
rm9§t

The following is a list of formal groups (i.e. groups that operate under a name
and that express specific goals and an ideology). Informal groups, in particular racial
extremist and skinhead groups, do operate across Southwest Ontario but are not listed.

Note: This list is not exhaustive and that groups may have a membership base or
chapters outside of Southwest Ontario.

Group Area of Operation Membership Numbers


Canadian Ethnic Cleansing Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener- Reports are varied. Estimates
Team Waterloo, London. The group from intelligence sources
indicates that it has chapters in indicates approximately 20 to 30
Ontario, Quebec, British members.
Columbia, Nova Scotia, and
Alberta.
Tri-City Skins Kitchener, Waterloo, Approximately 20
Cambridge, and Guelph.
Chapters in Kingston, Toronto, NA
Heritage Front
Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo-
Cambridge, Windsor, and
Niagara area.
Canadian Heritage Alliance Based in Kitchener-Waterloo Approximately 150 newsletter f^^l

and uses a post-office box in subscribers and 20 to 30 paying


Cambridge but has a members.
membership base throughout
Canada and the US.
Canada's Own Hooligans London Area. NA
Arrowcross Skins Newmarket. NA
Blood and Honour Canada Toronto. NA
Toronto Skinheads Toronto and claims to have 10 core members in Toronto and
chapters in Oakville, Ottawa, possibly up to 30 on the
Oshawa, Brantford, Bradford, periphery of the group.
Guelph, Kitchener, Windsor, flBjjj

Hamilton, and Oakville.


Polska Skins West-end Toronto - Bloor and Approximately 20-30.
Islington area.
CAFE, CFIRC, C-FAR Based in Mississauga but Over 2000 members across f ^ t

operates nationally. Canada.


World Church of the Creator Leaders based in Brantford and NA
Woodstock but operates

Scarborough Skinheads
Northern Foundation
nationally
Scarborough.
London (group disbanded in
Less than 10.
Approximately 30.
1
1999)
Based on London but with a NA (approximately 7 core
Straightpride Incorporated
widespread members and organisers).
affiliates.

P*S
pw

p
m

TABLE 3 - Relevant Sections of the Canadian Human Rights Act and the

r Canada Criminal Code

The following are the relevant sections of the Canadian Human Rights Act
(Sections 12, 13, and 14) and the Canada Criminal Code (Offences Against the
f Person- S. 318, 319, and 320) as of November 2001. Please note that in December
- 2001, the Anti-Terrorism Act, which contained revisions to the relevant sections of the
Canadian Human Rights Act and the Canada Criminal Code, received Royal Ascent
ipn
and will be amended in the near future.

According to the Department of Justice Canada, the government has proposed


f changes to legislation that addresses the root causes of hatred and reaffirms respect for
$ justice and diversity. The new legislation contains amendments to the Criminal Code
that will permit the courts to delete publicly available hate propaganda from
^ computer systems such as Internet websites. Individuals will be given the
I opportunity to convince the court that the material is not hate propaganda. This
revision covers material on any computer system in Canada regardless of whether the
f* owner of the material is located in Canada or whether the owner can be identified.
I
The new measures also makes it an offence to engage in mischief motivated
■f» by bias, prejudice, or hate based on the religion, race, colour, national or ethnic
j origin, or committed against places of religious worship or associated with
religious property. The maximum penalty will be 10 years when prosecuted on
m indictment or a maximum of 18 months on summary conviction.

The legislation also revises the Canadian Human Rights Act, in particular
Section 13, to prohibit the spreading of repeated hate messages by telephonic
I communications including all telecommunication technologies. This revision
eliminates any concern regarding whether the Internet, and messages posted on a

r
m website, falls under the seemingly limited purview of telephonic communications.

_, CANADIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACT - Sections 12.13. and 14


^ Publication of 12. It is a discriminatory practice to publish or display before the
discriminatory public or to cause to be published or displayed before the public any
IP notices, etc. notice, sign, symbol, emblem or other representation that

(a) expresses or implies discrimination or an intention to


p discriminate, or

(b) incites or is calculated to incite others to discriminate


ijpn

j if the discrimination expressed or implied, intended to be expressed


or implied or incited or calculated to be incited would otherwise, if

5 to 11 or in section
r engaged in, be a discriminatory practice14. described in any of sections

1976-77, c. 33, s. 12; 1980-81-82-83, c. 143, s. 6.


fsj

Hate messages 13. (1) It is a discriminatory practice for a person or a group of


persons acting in concert to communicate telephonically or to cause
to be so communicated, repeatedly, in whole or in part by means of
the facilities of a telecommunication undertaking within the
legislative authority of Parliament, any matter that is likely to expose
a person or persons to hatred or contempt by reason of the fact that
that person or those persons are identifiable on the basis of a
prohibited ground of discrimination.

Exception (2) Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of any matter that is
communicated in whole or in part by means of the facilities of a
broadcasting undertaking.

Interpretation (3) For the purposes of this section, no owner or operator of a


telecommunication undertaking communicates or causes to be
communicated any matter described in subsection (1) by reason only
that the facilities of a telecommunication undertaking owned or fffiSI

operated by that person are used by other persons for the


transmission of that matter.

1976-77, c. 33, s. 13.

Harassment 14. (1) It is a discriminatory practice,

(a) in the provision of goods, services, facilities or


accommodation customarily available to the general public,

(b) in the provision of commercial premises or residential


accommodation, or

(c) in matters related to employment,

to harass an individual on a prohibited ground of discrimination. <s~|i

Sexual (2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), sexual


harassment harassment shall, for the purposes of that subsection, be deemed to be
harassment on a prohibited ground of discrimination.

1980-81-82-83, c. 143, s. 7.

tHI |
ifm

CANADA CRIMINAL CODE - Sections 318,319. and 320

ADVOCATING GENOCIDE

... / Definition of "hate propaganda" / Consent / Definition of "identifiable group".

318. (1) Every one who advocates or promotes genocide is guilty of an indictable
offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.
ftp

(2) In this section, "genocide" means any of the following acts committed with intent
to destroy in whole or in part any identifiable group, namely

r (a) killing members of the group; or


(b) deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring
■PI about its physical destruction.

(3) No proceeding for an offence under this section shall be instituted without the
consent of the Attorney General.

(4) In this section, "identifiable group" means any section of the public distinguished
m by colour, race, religion or ethnic origin. [R.S. c. 11 (1 st Supp.), s. 1.]

PUBLIC INCITEMENT OF HATRED


pt)
... / Wilful promotion of hatred / Defences / Forfeiture / Exemption from seizure of
communication facilities / Consent / Definitions / "communicating" / "identifiable
- group" / "public place" / "statements".
*- 319. (1) Every one who, by communicating statements in a public place, incites hatred
against any identifiable group where such incitement is likely to lead to a breach of the
1 peace if guilty of
t
(a) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding
r two years; or
(b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.

P (2) Every one who, by communicating statements, other than in private conversation,
L wilfully promotes hatred against and identifiable group is guilty of
OKl
(a) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding
two years; or
(b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.
i jp*j

(3) No person shall be convicted of an offence under subsection (2)


* (a) if he establishes that the statements communicated were true;
(b) if, in good faith, he expressed or attempted to establish by argument an
opinion on a religious subject;
SH

|BP|
fS||

(c) if the statements were relevant to any subject of public interest, the
discussion of which was for the public benefit, and if on reasonable grounds he
believed them to be true; or ^
(d) if, in good faith, he intended to point out, for the purpose of removal,
matters producing or tending to produce feelings of hatred toward an
i d e n t i fi a b l e group in Canada. m
_.
(4) Where a person is convicted of an offence under section 318 or subsection (1) or
(2) of this section, anything by means of or in relation to which the offence was ^
committed, on such convictions, may, in addition to any other punishment imposed,
be ordered by the presiding provincial court judge or judge to be forfeited to Her
Majesty in right of the province in which that person is convicted, for disposal as the m
Attorney General may direct. ]

(5) Subsections 199(6) and (7) apply with such modifications as the circumstances **
require to section 318 or subsection (1) or (2) of this section. I

(6) No proceeding for an offence under subsection (2) shall be instituted without the m
consent of the Attorney General.

(7) In this section, **

"communicating"
includes communicating by telephone, broadcasting or other audible or visible
means; j
"identifiable group"
has the same meaning as in section 318 ;
"public place"
includes any place to which the public have access as a right or by invitation,
express or implied;
"statements"
includes words spoken or written or recorded electronically or 1
electromagnetically or otherwise, and gestures, signs or other visible
representations. [R.S., c.l 1 (1st Supp.), s.l.] T

Note: Although at some of this section infringes the right to freedom of expression, as
guaranteed by section 2(b) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms , it has been ruled ^
that it constitutes a reasonable limit on that right and is therefore valid legislation: R. J
v. Keegstra (1991), 63 C.C.C. (3d) 110, [1991] 4 W.W.R. 136, 79 Alta. L.R. (2d) 97
F^jji

(C.A.).

WARRANT OF SEIZURE

... / Summons to occupier / Owner and author may appear / Order of forfeiture /
Disposal of matter/ Appeal / Consent / Definitions / "court" / "genocide" / "hate ff^S

propaganda" / "judge".

320. (1) A judge who is satisfied by information on oath that there are reasonable
grounds for believing that any publication, copies of which are kept for sale or
ppl

distribution in premises, within the jurisdiction of the court, is hate propaganda, shall
issue a warrant under his hand authorizing seizure of the copies.

(2) Within seven days of the issue of the warrant under subsection (1), the judge shall
issue a summons to the occupier of the premises requiring him to appear before the
court and show cause why the matter seied should not be forfeited to Her Majesty.

(3) The owner and the author of the matter seized under subsection (1) and alleged to
Mil
be hate propaganda may appear and be represented in the proceedings in order to
oppose the making of an order for the forfeiture of the matter.
■P
(4) If the court is satisfied that the publication referred to in subsection (1) is hate
propaganda, it shall make an order declaring the matter forfeited to Her Majesty in
right of the province in which the proceedings take place, for disposal as the Attorney
m General may direct.

(5) If the court is not satisfied that the publication referred to in subsection (1) is hate
<n* propaganda, it shall order that the matter be restored to the person from whom it was
seized forthwith after the time for final appeal has expired.

(6) An appeal lies from an order made made under subsection (4) or (5) by any person
who appeared int he proceedings

pp (a) on any ground of appeal that involves a question of law alone,


(b) on any ground of appeal that involves a question of fact alone, or
(c) on any ground of appeal that involves a question of mixed law and fact,
as if it were an appeal against conviction or against a judgement or verdict of
acquittal, as the case may be, on a question of law alone under Part XXI, and sections
673 to 696 apply with such modifications as the circumstances require.

(7) No proceeding under this section shall be instituted without the consent of the
Attorney General.

r (8) In this section,

"court" means
ppi
(a) in the Province of Quebec, the Court of Quebec,
(a.l) in the Province of Ontario, the Ontario Court (General Division),
(b) in the Provinces of New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta,
the Court of Queen's Bench,
(c) in the Provinces of Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, the Supreme
Court, Trial Division, and
(c.l) [Repealed. 1992, c.51, s.36.]
(d) in the Provinces of Nova Scotia and British Columbia, the Yukon Territory
and the Northwest Territories, the Supreme Court;
Mjl

NOTE: Definition "court" amended 1993, c.28, s.78 (to come into force April 1, 1999)
by re-enacting para. (d). the text of para, (d), which is not yet in force and therefor
jfPI printed in italics, reads as follows:

r
(d) in the Provinces of Nova Scotia and British Columbia, the Yukon Territory,
the Northwest Territories, and Ununavut, the Supreme Court;
"genocide"
has the same meaning as in section 318;
"hate propaganda"
means any writing, sign or visible representation that advocates or promotes
genocide or the communication of which by any person would constitute an
offence under section 319 ;
"judge"
means a judge of a court. [r.S., c.l 1 (1st Supp.), s.l; 1974-75, c.48, s.25; 1978-
79, c.l 1, s.10; R.S.C. 1985, c.27 (2nd Supp.), s.10; c.40 (4th Supp.), s.2; 1990,
c.16, s.4; 1990, c.17, s.ll; 1992, c.l, s.58.]

fK|

f^Wrt] (

(CS

pris&H |
APPENDIX 1 - Factors of Involvement and Suggestions
ip
What Parents Can Look For

There are a number of factors that may indicate involvement in a far rightwing group,
in particular racial extremist groups such as skinhead organisations. Parents can look for
the following:

• Look for open and subtle conflict between family belief system and the young
person's belief system,
• Identify whether there is a willingness on part of the young person to defend a
belief system as absolute truth,
BjB^
• Identify whether there is a level of intolerance for opposing ideologies, and
• Note feelings of loneliness or alienation.

m Targets of Recruitment
ii'i

Patterns of recruitment and interviews with group leaders reveals that the
p following populations may be targeted for recruitment:
• Young people in urban areas that attend secondary school with an increasing
ft minority population or areas fragmented by ethnically-based conflict,
I • Young people in prison and the military, and
• Economically marginalized young people in urban settings.
•p)
Factors of Recruitment

• Social relationships play a key factor in recruitment. Young people with friends
involved in the far rightwing movement are more likely to become involved,
• Individuals who experienced physical conflict with members of the visible
minority community,
• Young people experiencing dramatic life changes and high a high level of stress,
and
• Although socially alienated young people are not specifically targeted, they
appear to be the most susceptible and willing to become involved in the extreme
$ffljpft
far rightwing movement.

Recruitment Techniques

Although the far rightwing movement is varied in terms of approaches to


recruitment, the following are examples of the most frequently used techniques:
p^

Bf|
Traditional

Posters and flyers


Matchbooks, stickers, business cards,
Development of personal relationships and direct contact,
Clothing and racist music, and
Gatherings, parties, and racist rock conceits.

New

• Internet web sites, chat rooms, and message boards,


• Hate-based video-games and children's activities such as puzzles and games, and
• Internet-based racist music sales and exchanges (the focus is to encourage H5|i

participation).

Recommended Responses ^

Educate young people about the criminal and social consequences of hate crimes,
how groups recruit, and how to respond to hate group activity in the community -.
(street proof young people at an early age),
Parents must be educated in identifying hate groups, hate groups symbols, and
how they operate and recruit, m
Parents must monitor and supervise the use of the Internet by young people, j
Schools must implement a zero tolerance policy on hate group activity and hate
crimes (a straight forward policy on hate-based activities must be established and ^
made public), J.
Teachers and administrators must be trained to identify hate groups and the
symbols of hate and how to respond to hate group activity and hate crimes, ^
Police must participate in community education campaigns regarding hate crimes J
and hate groups,
Police must establish contact with leaders in the cultural and ethnic communities T
to encourage reporting of hate crimes, -*
Police must establish clear guidelines for investigating hate crimes such as
standards for determining whether an act is hate-motivated, 1
Front-line officers must be trained to recognise and respond to hate crimes and
hate group activity on the street level, ^
Police must take a pro-active approach to hate crimes and hate groups rather than j
reacting to hate crimes (public education is key),
Community leaders and government officials must establish committees and «■
g r o u p s t o d e v e l o p a n t i - r a c i s m p r o j e c t s i n t h e c o m m u n i t y, j
Communities need to encourage youth involvement in anti-racism projects,
Local governments must recognise that fighting racism is not only a 'police issue1 "*'
but a community responsibility,
-

Non-profit and community agencies need to combine efforts to develop local

r programmes for young people susceptible to hate group recruitment (youth


training, encouraging volunteerism, etc.),
Community groups need to lobby provincial and federal government to develop
programmes to fight racism,
Community groups need to establish third-party reporting systems to assist police
in tracking hate crimes (only 10% of all hate crimes are reported to police),

r Local businesses must get involved in community building and assist young
people in becoming community leaders,
Pubs and bars need to react positively to hate groups by developing dress-code
iSH?
standards prohibiting the wearing of gang or hate-based colours or symbols, and
The key is to develop safe and healthy communities by encouraging active
I p ^ participation and developing clear standards and policies.

fpsj

r
r
r
Appendix 2 - Literature Review (selected material)
PPI
Is God a Racist? The Far Right in Canada
Stanley R. Barrett
Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1987.

Barrett puts together an effective and extensive analysis of the far right movement in
'IP Canada, examining the movement from its inception in the 1920s through the mid-
1980s Barrett uses a variety of anthropological methods of data collection including
textual analysis, interviews, surveys, and legal documents. This study provides insight
into the racist worldview, group dynamics, and how the movement has involved.

Antisemitism in Canada: History and Interpretation


Alan Davies (ed.)
Waterloo: University of Waterloo Press, 1992.

This text offers an insightful collection of articles from Canadian academics analysing
the existence of anti-Semitism in the modem period, ranging from historical themes
and political anti-Semitism through the development of the far rightwing movement.
Of particular interest are the articles examining Nazism in Canada, Keegstra, and
Zundel.

From Marches to Modem: A Report on Organized Hate in Metropolitan Toronto


Bernie M. Farber (ed.) t 1 fl fl .
Toronto: Access and Equity Centre, Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto, iyy /.

PI A collection of articles written by various experts in the field, this report outlines all
the major facets of the far rightwing movement in Toronto. The report also provides
historical context for modern manifestations of organised racism and provides an
■W excellent overview of the legal and social consequences of involvement in rightwing
extremism. All the major characters are discussed, including Don Andrews, Wolfgang
Droege, Paul Fromm, Marc Lemire, and George Burdi. Of particular interest in the
article written by Elizabeth Moore, a former member of the Heritage Front, m which
she debunks some of the myths and conjecture surrounding the movement.

Social Problems in Canada: Conditions, Constructions, and Challenges


Augie Fleras
Toronto: Prentice Hall, 2001

This text offers a well-structured examination of racism and discrimination in Canada,


extending from organised racism and hate groups through the various forms of
institutional racism such as systemic and systematic discrimination.
im

- Hate/Bias Motivated Acts Perpetrated By and Against Youth: A Research


Overview
" Mala Khanna
Department of Canadian Heritage, 1999.
m An insightful report that addresses the involvement by young people in hate groups
and hate crimes. Of particular interest are the recommendations regarding programs
and policies and overcoming resistance to institutional change as well as suggestions J
for further reading on the subject.

Unholy Alliances: Terrorists, Extremists, Front Companies, and the Libyan


Connection to Canada
Warren Kinsella ^
Toronto: Lester Publishing, 1992.

An interesting book, Kinsella examines the connection between Mu'ammar Qadhafi ^


and the far rightwing movement in Canada and the United States during the 1980s,
including the funding of Don Andrew's Nationalist Party of Canada, and traces the
involvement of movement leaders such as Ian Vemer MacDonald, Ernst Zundel, m
Droege and many others.

Web of Hate: Inside Canada's Far Right Network m


Warren Kinsella
Toronto: HaperPerennial, 1995 (1994).

This popular press book provides a who's who of the modem movement, highlighting
connections between groups, background on leaders, and American influence in the
Canadian movement More recent editions provide an analysis of the impact of the
Internet on organised racism.

The Beast Reawakens „


Martin A. Lee I
New York: Routledge, 2000

Lee offers an insightful and extensive analysis of the history of fascism extending
from the Second World War through to modem manifestations. Although written from J
US perspective, the text analyses the resurgence of the extreme rightwing movement
in Europe and also pays much attention to individuals such as Wolfgang Droege and ^
Ernst Zundel. '

The Revival of Right-Wing Extremism in the Nineties


P. Merkl and Leonard Weinburg (eds.) ^
London: Frank Cass, 1997.

This collection of articles offers a range of views on the rightwing extremist ^


movement, including theories regarding youth involvement and discussions of the
forms of political strategy used by the far rightwing in Europe and North America.
fSfo^i

Racism
Robert Miles
London: Routledge, 1989.

Miles offers an excellent sociological analysis of the concepts of racism and


discrimination. Of particular interest is the discussion of racism as an ideology and
racialisation of worldviews.
Other Resources of Interest:

The Heritage Front Affair: Report to the Solicitor General of Canada


Security Intelligence Review Committee, 9 December 1994.

This report is an excellent resource for researchers regarding the far rightwing
movement in Canada during the 1980s and the early 1990s. Of particular interest is the
relationship between the Heritage Front and the Reform Party. This report also
provides an uncommon glimpse into the working of the intelligence community. Pay
attention to detail and read between the lines.
•BBS)

Hate Crimes in Canada: An Overview of Issues and Data Sources


Statistics Canada
Ottawa: Ministry of Industry, 2001 (# 85-551-X1E)

A definite must read for those interested in the frequency of hate crimes, how police
record statistics, and the need for a unified system of reporting.

2000 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents


League for Human Rights of B'nai Brith Canada
Canada: League for Human Rights, 2001.

The League offers annual reports on anti-Semitism in Canada for more than 10 years
jP)
and these reports offer some valuable information on the existence of hate groups in
Canada.
P^

PP

p^

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