Why We Do What We Do: "Apparent" Racial Attack in Courtenay, British Columbia

We don't believe for a moment that boneheads and racist extremists are going to take over the Canadian government, though conservative groups and websites (such as Free Dominion) mock the efforts of anti-racists by claiming that this is what we do believe. Our focus on extremists has more to do with the dangers they pose to individual Canadians. Throughout this blog we've shown ample evidence that this concern really is well founded; Aryan Guard members committing assaults and Toronto boneheads vandalizing a business and trying to intimidate the owner are only two examples. Sadly, we can add another example now:

Apparent B.C. hate crime attack posted on YouTube 

Last Updated: Monday, July 6, 2009 | 11:03 PM PT 

One man has been arrested and more arrests are expected, RCMP say, following a vicious assault in Courtenay, B.C., that police believe was racially motivated. 

Jay Phillips was attacked Friday in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant by three young men. A video of the incident posted on YouTube shows Phillips, 38, fighting back as he's surrounded by the trio. It's not known who shot the video or posted it on the website. 

Phillips, who is black, said the attack was unprovoked. 

He said a truckload of men drove by and started shouting racial epithets. "We're going to kill you, we're going to lynch you — really vile stuff." 

Phillips said the three men, who appear to be in their early 20s, circled back and confronted him. 

The men "got out of the truck, surrounded me, still calling me names, threatening me, threatening my family, saying this is our white town and you're not allowed here — stuff like that. 

"Then they all came at me and surrounded me." 

In a news release issued Monday, police said they are reviewing video evidence and questioning witnesses, but preliminary investigation indicates there may have been a racial element in the incident. 

Phillips, who said he's the target of racism on almost a daily basis, said he felt compelled to report this incident to police. 

"There's a lot of young kids of different races in this town and they may not have been as fortunate as me and I'd like to take care of these kids," he said. 

"I think everyone should be allowed to walk down the street with their head held up and proud of who they are. Everybody."

Below one can see the video that recorded the incident:



Thankfully Mr. Phillips appears alright, but that is hardly the point.

If anyone has any information, please don't hesitate to contact the police (yes, we know, but we do still think it's important to go through the proper channels) and us.

UPDATE: Can't say that we're all that surprised, but looks like Aryan Guard member Bill Noble is providing excuses and justification for the assault. Guess what? The boneheads are the victims:

We suppose that Billy is depending on people not being able to see what is happening in the video.