Marc Lemire and the Heritage Front: Was He Ever the Leader?

We’ve been following the Marc Lemire (pictured) saga play out for some time. As a result of a complaint being brought against him by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, his constitutional challenge to Canadian hate crime laws, and his, shall we say, acrimonious relationship with Richard Warman, Lemire has become a cause célèbre for those opposed to the CHRC and CHRT. In fact, some have referred to Lemire as no less than a persecuted martyr and a free speech hero. A common cause makes for strange bedfellows; Ezra Levant, who is Jewish, has found common cause with a man who’s links to holocaust deniers and neo-Nazis is unquestioned.

Well, that’s not entirely true. In fact, those ties do appear to be questioned. Not just questioned, but outright dismissed as libelous.

One of the groups supporting Marc Lemire is Free Dominion. Free Dominion, an Internet political webforum, is the Canadian sister site of the American-based Free Republic, both of which are known for being particularly partisan. The members of their web forums don’t view political discourse as a competition of different viewpoints so much as a war of black and white where conservatives represent everything good and pure while liberals are communistic, atheistic, barbarians at the gate trying to destroy everything patriotic Canadians know and love. In short, they view politics as a struggle between good and evil and those who don’t fall into step with conservative positions are evil and must be destroyed.

Sound a little melodramatic? Take a look at the webforum of Free Dominion and form your own opinion (you might also wish to join and try to express a leftist or socialist view; you’ll learn quickly how their views regarding freedom of speech and expression don’t apply to anyone who’s speech or expression differ markedly from their own).

A point of note. We at Anti-Racist Canada were briefly targeted by Connie Fournier, the co-owner of Free Dominion and wife of Mark Fournier (though it appears to have been "sold" recently), who erroneously accused us of being tied to Anti-Racist Action. She corrected herself when called on her error, though her "apology" was a little ham-handed.

Both Mark and Connie Fournier, who have become subjects of a libel suit filed by Richard Warman, have also become staunch supporters and defenders of Marc Lemire. Their support goes so far as to actually deny that he had much, if anything, to do with the Heritage Front, a rather infamous neo-Nazi group that was founded in the late 1980s by Wolfgang Droege (pictured) and Gerry Lincoln. They deny that Lemire was ever the leader of a group they claim was actually set up by the Canadian government in an effort to drum up support for the CHRC. This vast conspiracy, in spite of court documents and mainstream press publications documenting that Lemire became the leader of the Heritage Front around 2001. Marc Lemire and “others” have told Mark and Connie Fournier that he had little to do with the Heritage Front and that appears good enough for them, a fact illustrated in an exchange in a thread on Free Dominion dealing with the recent efforts by the Aryan Guard to pay new members’ rent deposits (“Neo-Nazi group offers rent incentive to Calgary recruits”):

In response to the statement by one member who posted, “If Marc Lemire didn't want to be hated or held in contempt he shouldn't have become leader of the Heritage Front,”

Mark Fournier (who posts as Entropy Squared) responded, “Let's see if you can do what nobody else has been able to do. Source that ridiculous claim.” (Posted: 07/ 24/ 08 9:08 pm)

Later on, Mark Fournier states the following regarding the Heritage Front and Lemire’s involvement:

“The Heritage Front was a government operation. It had one leader throughout its entire history and that leader's name was Wolfgang Droege. The lie that Marc Lemire was the leader of the Heritage Front had to have come out of the CHRC because Marc Lemire was fighting back and the CHRC knew they had to silence him one way or another. They ran a very successful smear campaign against him. It was so successful that we still hear echoes of it today even after it has been thoroughly debunked.” (07/ 24/ 08 9:20 pm)

Another webforum member named Edward Kennedy also dismissed evidence of Lemire’s leadership of the Heritage Front from an article by Bill Dunphy in the “Guelph Mercury” from April 22, 2005 entitled, “Slaying ends an unlamented era of hatred; Wolfgang Droege's credibility died long before he did”:

“Written of course from a MSM [mainstream media] biased perspective. You seem to miss the part about Wolfgang Droege being murdered, so who are the real threats to life and freedom, such groups as he led or the opponents who murdered him for having a different beleif [sic] than theirs [sic]?

As I said before, the real threats to freedom are ara [sic] communist fascists, hrc [sic] fascists and bigots, and the intolerant political correct droids of the MSM and mindless grazing herd.” (07/ 24/ 08 9:27 pm)

We should note that Droege was not murdered by an anti-racist or because of a "different beleif", but was killed by a deranged man who may have been involved in a love triangle with Droege and a woman. There are also allegations that Droege, known to be dealing in drugs and stolen goods at the time of his death, was killed as a result of a dispute regarding illegal activities.

When a poster making the case that Lemire was the leader of the Heritage Front posted, “… Bill Dunphy covered the Heritage Front for the Toronto Sun in the early 1990s and knows more about them then any other outside,” Mark Fournier responded:

“He couldn't be much of an expert if he couldn't even get this fact straight. Every person I've talked to or interviewed about those days says it never happened. Not one single person who was around at that time says Marc Lemire had anything to do with running the Heritage Front.

I'll take their words over the word of one reporter who said otherwise with nothing to substantiate his claim.” (07/ 24/ 08 9:33 pm)

Mark Fournier goes on to write in response to the same poster who wrote, “Bill Dunphy has inside knowledge of the Heritage Front and personally knew a number of its members, including Lemire. Are you accusing him of lying?”:

“Whether he was lying should be decided by a judge. It is my hope that Marc Lemire forces him, and many others who have participated in the smear, to provide evidence that Lemire was the leader of the Heritage Front. If Lemire chooses that route people like Bill Dunphy will have a real problem proving something that never happened.” (07/ 24/ 08 9:39 pm)

Later, Fournier makes the following request:

“I'm still waiting for any proof that Lemire was ever the head of the government operated Heritage Front. To the best of my knowledge Marc Lemire has never been the head of any taxpayer-funded organization.” (07/ 24/ 08 9:50 pm)

Finally, and though we could go on and on and on, Fournier writes in response to the post, “Marc Lemire has never sued anyone for saying he was a leader of the Heritage Front, not once. Why would you expect him to start now?”:

“The timing of the lawsuits I hope Marc Lemire launches are his business but I expect they will be forthcoming when he deems the time to be ripe. I expect he will be able to retire on the settlements and judgments he gets.” (07/ 24/ 08 9:54 pm)

So, Mark Fournier says that “not one single person who was around at that time says Marc Lemire had anything to do with running the Heritage Front.” He also makes a request, which was answered and summarily dismissed, for proof that Lemire was ever the head of the Heritage Front.

We thought we would throw our hat into the ring and take up the challenge. Fournier says that not a single person who was around at the time says that Lemire had anything to do with leading the Heritage Front? We submit, for your reading pleasure, and article written by Gerry Lincoln, the former editor of the Heritage Front’s magazine, “UpFront” and co-founder of the Heritage Front:

Uh! Oh! they're ba-ack!

Gerry Lincoln (March 9, 2001)

After a six-year hiatus, the long-moribund Heritage Front has been resurrected.

Seems someone rolled away the stone and released the "racist demon" back into Canada's complacent and apathetic society.

Anyone want to place bets on how long until the "Oye Vey-ing" begins again?

What's good for "the racists" is double good for the "human rights" industry. If the HF did not exist, it would be necessary for scribblers like failed Toronto Sun reporter Bill Dunphy and the Anti-Defamation crowd to invent it.

This is more or less an open letter to the new leadership, specifically Marc Lemire, who seems to have assumed the role of head honcho and put his good name on the line.

It's a thankless job, but I guess somebody has to do it.

Lemire was little more than a munchkin when he joined the HF back in the early nineties. He quickly proved his dedication by filling in wherever and whenever needed. I recall numerous phone calls from Marc in those days; he was always looking for things to do. We couldn't keep him busy enough. A go-getter from Day One, when projects were scarce, Marc took the initiative, setting up Canada's first "racialist" BBS, which later evolved into Canada's premiere "white rights" website, the immensely popular Freedomsite.

Marc has earned his stripes.

As a "founding father" (ugh! — just like John A. MacDonald) of the original HF, can I offer a bit of unsolicited advice? Feel free to take it or leave it.

If the "human rights" creeps come-a-callin' I suggest you tell them to hit the road and go perform a sexual act upon themselves that's impossible unless they're double-jointed as well as two-faced. 

Anyone who has watched these clowns in action knows they're so brainwashed and blind, they couldn't find their ass with a flashlight. In short, F - 'em! Don't waste valuable resources defending yourself against jerk-offs — save your money until you get to a real court, where you might still have some hope of attaining justice.

At this point, you don't have the money, the support or the infrastructure to sustain a ten-year battle in a pseudo-judicial Mickey Mouse charade of "human rights" show trials like the dynamic and charismatic Ernst Zündel. Mr. Zee has a thirty-year head start on you so it'll take time to polish your act and gain the trust and respect that he enjoys. You'll have to earn that by proving yourself worthy and equal to the task at hand. For now, save your shekels for the real thing.

If you're the leader, be a leader!

Don't allow yourself to be sidetracked by people promoting their own wacky agendas. Initially, allies may be few and far between, but don't feel you have to align yourself with every crackpot organization that comes down the pike. Let the conspiracy buffs wallow in their own paranoia. If it's raining when you hoped for a sunny day, don't blame "the Jews" or anyone else for the inclement weather. Avoid the alcohol-besotted John Morgans of this world who will invariably try to derail you with their kooky theories. Remain focused — you've got REAL fish to fry.

Just as important; there will be younger, less-experienced people who come into your life, kids impatient for overnight change who may try to goad you into taking inappropriate action to achieve your goals. I don't have to tell you that you can't be pushing non-white immigrants in front of subway trains or throwing them into dumpsters because you disagree with this country's fucked-up immigration policies. People tried that in the past, and yet the hordes still keep coming, so that approach to the problem obviously wasn't all that successful. Not to mention, it's just not nice and it's highly illegal.

Somehow, no matter what cause you might espouse, be it purifying the environment, or cleaning up other types of pollution that have infested this once-great land, some schlep, anxious to accuse you of "anti-you-know-what-ism" is bound to ask you about the "Big H." Don't allow yourself to become mired in a non-productive argument over an issue that is now largely regarded as a "Bubeh Meise." It has nothing to do with you. In my opinion, an appropriate response might be a simple non sequitur like a quickly mumbled "douchebag-says-what?"

I've long admired your "Fuck-the-media!" attitude. Despite what the mainstream press might say, you know your cause is just and right. Just don't expect them to laud your efforts.

They won't.

Encourage your supporters to use the Internet, where at least for now, they can get an uncensored and unfiltered version of what you want to say.

For the most part, avoid the old farts who offer unsolicited counsel, telling you how they've "been in the movement for over forty years" and blah, blah blah! Look at what they've accomplished. Chances are, their best "movement" activity consists of little more than a successful bowel movement — and probably twenty years ago at that. Many of them are still "full of it."

You're embarked upon a difficult, perhaps dangerous undertaking. Surround yourself with capable and talented people. Learn to delegate responsibility. The task at had is too great for any one person to handle by himself.

Learn from the mistakes of the past. Study what worked and what was totally unsuccessful and from there, plot your own course.

And finally, above all, have fun with it!

Best regards,

-----Gerry Lincoln

Gerry Lincoln is a freelance journalist and the former Editor of UpFront Magazine, the popular magazine and official voice of the Heritage Front, the largest and most successful Racialist group in Canadian history. You can contact Gerry Lincoln by sending E-Mail to: keepin_it_real@radio.fm

Gerry Lincoln was not only “around at the time,” Mr. Fournier. He, as a FOUNDER of the Heritage Front, was “around” from the very beginning. He designed the logo. He created and edited the Heritage Front’s magazine. He was one of the Heritage Front members to travel to Libya. If you don’t take the word of a representative of the mainstream press like Bill Dunphy, then perhaps the word of the decidedly non-mainstream Gerry Lincoln with be enough to convince you.

Don’t worry. We’re not holding our breath.

We don’t doubt that Mark Fournier will also dismiss this document as insufficient evidence that Mark Lemire was ever the leader of the Heritage Front. In fact, we doubt if anything short of Lemire announcing at a press conference on Parliament Hill that he assumed the leadership of the Heritage Front will be enough to convince Fournier or the other true believers among the Free Dominion crowd.

But there’s just one more thing.

We found this Gerry Lincoln article on Freedom-Site, the website created and still maintained by Marc Lemire. This was the last of four Gerry Lincoln articles in the section entitled “Controversial Columnists.” As of the publishing of our article, it is still there, though we decided to link to the cached version in case the Lincoln article somehow, “disappears.”