Reaction to the Tragedies in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu and Ottawa

Well I'm back.

Did I miss anything?

There are a lot of stories I would like to get to eventually. For example I've been digging up some information on a Winnipeg misanthrope posting on Stormfront as "vikingwarlord14" named Jonathan (and trust us when we note that the online moniker is yet another example of a delusion of grandeur). And god knows that Paulie's photos deserve more attention. Well, that's a poor choice of words. Dear god! Even when this writer takes some time off I'm subjected to a horror that so living soul should be subjected to. Paul Fromm. In a leather bondage thong. That's an image that, once seen, can never be unseen.

But I really think I would remiss if I didn't first make mention of the tragedies of the past week in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu and Ottawa.

I'm not going to belabor the basics that we all already know, though I will provide a brief background. Patrice Vincent and Nathan Cirillo were murdered in two distinct attacks. The two accused, also dead, were Canadian-born recent converts to Islam who have been described as having been radicalized. Neither man appears to have known the other and the second attack in Ottawa appears to have been a copycat attack inspired by the events in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu. At least one of the men had a long, troubled, history before his conversion to Islam and had been tossed out of a mosque as a result of his extremist views. The other had attempted to travel to Turkey in order to hook up with ISIS (a particularly evil, fascistic, Islamic movement in Syria and Iraq responsible for countless atrocities) but was prevented from doing so by the authorities; numerous people, including his parents and Imam, tried to steer him away from radical views but were sadly not successful. Both men may or may not have been inspired by ISIS' call for those supporting them to engage in attacks on targets overseas, though it appears likely there was no direct connection. Both may or may not have been mentally ill.

Since the attacks, Muslim Canadians have denounced the murders loudly and unambiguously:

Winnipeg Muslims condemn soldier attacks, fear backlash

Canadian Muslim group calls Ottawa attacks ‘repulsive’

Ottawa shooting: Canadian Muslims denounce attacks

While condemning the murder of Vincent and Cirillo is admirable, one might be troubled by what appears to be the assigning of group guilt to Muslim-Canadians. If there was not a condemnation of the attacks by Muslims, they would be accused of secretly supporting those attacks. I can't recall Roman Catholics in Canada being required to condemn the actions of the IRA, for example, or be suspected of implicitly supporting sectarian violence in Ireland.

But regardless of how many times our fellow Canadians denounce violence carried out by extremists, there seem to be those who will ignore those denunciations and still tar all Muslims as extremists, as our friend Ed Kennedy (formerly of the currently defunct Free Dominion) proves once again:

Not surprisingly, the boneheads we cover here on the blog also jumped into the mix. The irony of some of their comments given some of their criminal backgrounds (keep in mind that "Freedom Fighter" is Kyle McKee) appears lost on them:

Two Anti-Muslim Incidents in Alberta

Last Friday Syed Soharwardy, a well known Calgary-based imam alleges he was twice struck by a car driven by a woman who also shouted anti-Islam epithets at him. Soharwardy wasn't injured, but he was understandably shaken by the experience.

And the reaction of some of the boneheads we follow? Not exactly unexpected:

While it might be expected that xenophobic, racist, antisemetic, anti-Muslim, violent, boneheads would support attacks on Muslims in the country, the unchecked rhetoric equating all Muslims with terrorists has appeared to have resulted in an upswing in anti-Muslim sentiments (as indicated by the comments on the "more mainstream" Calgary Sun. Until something is done, we anticipate that will not improve soon.

Anti-Muslim vandals strike Fort Saskatchewan home twice 
National Council of Canadian Muslims notes recent rise in anti-Islam sentiment 
By Andrea Huncar
CBC News Posted: Sep 16, 2014 7:59 AM MT Last Updated: Sep 16, 2014 7:59 AM MT

Members of Fort Saskatchewan’s Muslim community are once again cleaning up after a home that they use for prayer was vandalized with anti-Islam insults twice in the past week. 

Hate-Motivated Vandalism in London

There is a suspicion that this guy might just be someone we recently wrote about here. We aren't entirely certain, but if any of our readers want to let us know who they think he is, we would very much appreciate the confirmation of our suspicions:

London police seek man after discovery of 'hate-motivated' graffiti

Free Press staff

Monday, June 30, 2014 10:42:59 EDT AM

 

London police are investigating hate-motivated graffiti written in the laundry room of an apartment building and on the side of a home in central east London.

Police said the graffiti, believed to have been scrawled by the same person, was directed towards the black community.

One incident took place at an apartment building on Connaught Ave. and the other on an exterior wall of a house on Harley St.

Police said the incident was reported on Friday. A video image of the suspect shows a Caucasian, 20-30 years old, of medium height and build. He was wearing a blue baseball cap and was carrying a red shoulder bag in addition to a black backpack.

Police ask anyone with information on these crimes is asked to call the London Police Service at 519-661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). To set up a Neighbourhood Watch, please contact nwl@london.ca or call 519-661-4533.

Kyle McKee Writes in the Third Person Now

There was a little update regarding McKee's alleged involvement on the attack against Max Hynes, a one time ally now rival, that took place in the summer of 2012:

White power leader denies role in Kitchener ambush

By Brian Caldwell

KITCHENER — The leader of a Calgary-based white supremacy group denies he orchestrated a vicious attack in Kitchener to mete out internal discipline. 

Kyle McKee, 28, a former Kitchener man who heads a neo-Nazi organization called Blood and Honour, was named in court last week when two other people admitted their roles in the plot. 

The facts accepted by Jessie Lajoie, 25, and Marissa Kissack, 24, specified meetings with McKee while he was in custody for alleged hate crimes in Alberta preceded the armed attack here in the summer of 2012. 

Now free on bail, however, McKee denied involvement in the ambush of Max Hynes, a former group member lured to the park by Kissack with a promise of sex. 

"I've never been questioned about it, I haven't been charged and it definitely hasn't been proven," McKee said in an interview from Calgary this week. 

Const. Jeff Gren, the local detective who investigated the case, confirmed McKee hasn't been formally accused of the crime. 

"The short answer is we simply lacked the evidence to proceed with a charge against him," he wrote in an email. 

Gren would not say if McKee was interviewed because it could adversely affect the investigations conducted outside Ontario. 

Hynes, 21, was described in court as a former Blood and Honour organizer in London who had a falling out with McKee "due to a number of unauthorized activities." 

He was hit in the head and slashed twice in the stomach by Lajoie and alleged accomplice Eric Marshall, 26, after they travelled here from Alberta to get him. 

bcaldwell@therecord.com

That Jessie Lajoie, Eric Marshall, and Marissa Kissack were involved in a violent attack against Max Hynes would likely have received only a little mainstream media coverage in addition to the focus we would have given it. However at least one bonehead has been keeping the story alive on Stormfront as well:

Gee, ain't that a coincidence? "Freedom Fighter" suggests that the journalist who wrote the original article was incorrect but will soon make some corrects. Lo and behold a couple of days later, and the promised article appears.

"Freedom Fighter" joined Stormfront on May 31, 2013 and has been sporadically active (89 posts as of May 2, 2014) ever since. He has suggested that he is a new but also a long-time activist:

 

It didn't become too long before this "relatively new" Stormfront member took an inordinate (and surprisingly detailed) interest in the affairs of Kyle McKee. We earlier noted that when Hynes was trying to promote the Southern Ontario Skinheads on Stormfront, "Freedom Fighter" very quickly stepped in to offer his unsolicited $0.02:

He claims that he doesn't have knowledge about the case despite providing some fairly accurate information.... you know.... for someone who doesn't really know any of the parties involved.

"Freedom Fighter" also has an odd interest in the past annual marches that McKee's Blood & Honour (as well as their forerunner Aryan Guard) used to organize:

Come on Kyle! Who you think you're fooling? (Update: Thanks for catching that for us)

Flyers and Graffiti

Over the last two weeks, there have been a few events that have resulted in some coverage in the mainstream press that would be of interest to our readers. The biggest story is the one about the flyer that was distributed by a group calling itself Immigration Watch Canada in Brampton:

"Mainstream Canadians" = white Canadians apparently

Actually, given the euphemistic name the IWC has given itself, we sort of appreciate that they decided to be so overt in their racism. Kinda puts it right out there in the open.

Condemnation of the flyer has been widespread and varied and has resulted in a police investigation, but not to worry. You see the spokesman for the group says that the flyer isn't racist and that it's the people who view the obviously racist flyer as racist who are the real problems:

"That's the standard answer that they all give. They can't think of anything else to say, so they play the race card or call you a xenophobe," Murray said in a telephone interview on Friday. "If we are going to throw around names, I'll call them a bunch of cowards and quislings –  the mainstream part of the population that engages in that type of conversation."

Yeah. Because how could one possible come to the conclusion that the ad is xenophobic? Crazy, right?

Of course the quisling accusation sort of echos the claims of people like Paulie Fromm and his fellow travellers that immigration is akin to a foreign invasion, so that doesn't help their claim to not being racist. Hell, we half expect them to start spouting off the Whitaker mantra.

And it also doesn't help your rejection of the racist label when your flyer results in Bill Noble and the folks on Stormfront showing you a little love:

Burning Swastika Found in Edmonton

Any information from our readers would be welcomed:

Burning Swastika Spotted In Edmonton

The Huffington Post Alberta  |  Posted: 04/22/2014 11:36 am EDT  |  Updated: 04/23/2014 4:59 pm EDT

Edmonton police are investigating after a wooden swastika was found burning in the city's southwest over the Easter weekend.

A driver made the call to police early Monday morning after a six-by-six feet tall burning swastika was spotted at Anthony Henday westbound near the Rabbit Hill Road exit, reports Global News.

Staff Sgt. Todd Leycock told The Calgary Sun it was a "shocking" sight.

Fire crews quickly put out the fire, and the police have transferred the investigation to the Edmonton Police Hate Crimes Unit, according to Metro Edmonton.

Police would like anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
 

Confirmed: Kyle McKee Charged With Assault and Weapons Charges Late 2013

We had heard some rumours earlier in the new year but had been unable to confirm the rumours until now. After speaking to a friend in Calgary this past weekend as well as other contacts we can confirm that some time between October and November 2013 Kyle McKee was arrested and charged with assault and weapons offences. While we don't yet know the nature of the alleged assault and related charges, we do know that he was released after posting bail. Given McKee's extensive history with the criminal justice system (including his most recent lifetime weapons ban.... that's right, we wrote, "most recent") we are curious to know the reason the court granted bail considering it had only been 5 or 6 months since McKee was released after serving a 13 month sentence on assault and weapons charges (we know what we just wrote sounds like passive aggressive criticism, but it isn't intended to be; we are genuinely curious to know the rationale behind the decision since it might provide details about the case itself).

When asked about any upcoming trial, our source was not able to give a precise response but suggested that such a trial would not take place for several more months. As the information concerning McKee's arrest is in the public domain, we are also left wondering why none of the msm have picked up on this story when it first occurred?

So, if any of our dear readers have any further details or clarifications concerning McKee's arrest, we would very much like to hear from you.

Jason and Bonnie Devine Home Vandalized and Tires Slashed

We will post what was written by Jason concerning the incident:

Just after 5am our house was attacked, again. It looks like a brick, or a part of a brick, was thrown at our front window. The person who did it opened the gate, walked across the lawn, and threw the projectile.

In light of the different previous attacks we have faced and the fact that Kyle McKee is free and organizing again, we strongly believe that this was the work of Blood & Honour (B&H).

Could this be the action of a new member being initiated into B&H? We don't know and it doesn't matter. What matters is the fact that as long as these neo-Nazis are free the attacks, as in the past, will continue and we will not be truly safe.

The following photographs were taken of the damage. Jason states that he heard one loud bang followed by a second along with the sound of shattering glass seconds later. The brick that was thrown broke the first window pane but did not go through the second. Jason believes that this all occurred between 5:10 am and 5:15 am.

 
Later, it was discovered that three of the four tires of the Devine's vehicle had been slashed:

There have been some rumors that McKee has been reorganizing Blood & Honour. Given the other attacks that have occurred to the Devine family, first at their condo and then their home, it seems far too coincidental that this would be a random attack given the level of malice that appears to be involved.

If anyone has any information, please contact the us and the police.

Racist and homophobic graffiti in Lethbridge

We're a little late on this one, but it's still worth inclusion:

Alberta city plastered with racist, homophobic graffiti

The Canadian Press Posted: Aug 11, 2012 6:23 PM MT Last Updated: Aug 12, 2012 9:46 AM MT

People in southern Alberta are busy cleaning up racist and homophobic graffiti that appeared overnight on many of their homes, garages, fences and cars.

Police in Lethbridge, about 225 kilometres southeast of Calgary, say the graffiti referred to several ethnic groups, including Caucasians, and also contained obscenities. Two of the spray-painted messages also say "White Nation" and "White Power."

Police say they are following several leads in the case, but added there is nothing to suggest that it was directed at any particular person or property. The graffiti is not considered hate propaganda, nor motivated by bias or hate as defined by the Criminal Code of Canada.

We know of some boneheads in Lethbridge, but this doesn't seem in character for them (we could be wrong though). Might just be some idiots. We'll see.

Why White Supremacists Should Be A Concern To Everyone

Last month, two shooting incidents landed Toronto in the national news because of the links to gangs (including this in which two people, including a child, were murdered). These two incidents were preceded another gang related shooting which resulted in the death of one man.

In their coverage of these incidents, the msm have been rhetorically asking what can be done to solve the problem of gang violence. Municipal, provincial, and federal politicians have also been very publicly wrestling with the problem, including at least one who suggests that it might be an immigration problem.

But there are those who might also ask why should we spend all the promised resources on a problem that will not affect most Canadians?

Let's face it. Most of us will never be affected by gang crime, especially gang violence. Such violence is found in a fairly narrow demographic in Canada which is related to poverty, something we have already briefly discussed on this blog. If you, like the vast majority of Canadians are, in the middle class, the odds of being a victim of gang violence is very low (which isn't to say it never happens). There's also no danger whatsoever of the average street gang influencing the political process. We'll never have an active member of any street gang who will be able to impose his or her criminal ideas on the rest of the population.... the mafia and associated political corruption notwithstanding.

So why is our society afraid of gangs? There are a lot of legitimate reasons, including the very real violence that they engage that does affect some segments of society which results in severe injuries and deaths. and because they engage in anti-social behavior that corrupts young people and results in, for too many, a very bleak future; one of an early death or frequent incarceration.

Yes, we're oversimplifying a complex issue, but bear with us for a moment as we draw a parallel.

Earlier today, our fellow blogger Michael Murphy (BCL) appeared on Michael Coren's Sun T.V. program to discuss the dangers of white supremacist violence (this was in response to the events in Wisconsin in which 7 men were murdered by a member of a notoriously violent hate group). Before Mr. Murphy spoke, Coren stated that while Wisconsin was a horrible event, it is so rare that we shouldn't be at all concerned with white supremacist violence because, to paraphrase his argument, it never really happens. He ridiculed white supremecists as welfare losers who sit in their parent's basement plotting about taking over the world (we have to admit that when we heard this characterization, we immediately thought of Tomasz Winnicki), but they are not a credible threat. Rather, the real threat in our midst is Islam, though we can't quite remember if he made the distinction between the radical extremists or ordinary Muslims.

White supremacists should be left alone to post their ideas on hate sites but otherwise ignored since their ideas can't harm anyone. Their crimes don't affect most people and they are not a threat to national cohesion.

The problem is that white supremacists HAVE harmed people. A lot of people.

Racist Vandalism in Calgary

N-word scratched into car door shocks Calgary woman

By Clara Ho, Calgary Herald May 9, 2012

 

CALGARY — Nothing could prepare Antonia Mohamed for the ugly sight she saw as she walked to her car for work last Wednesday morning.

Deeply etched on the driver’s side of her grey 2007 Honda Civic was a racial slur — the N-word.

“I was definitely shocked, hurt, a little bit disheartened,” said the 35-year-old, whose family is from Trinidad, but was born and raised in Canada.

The woman said she now plans to move out of the complex — maybe even out of town.

The car was parked in an assigned stall in a private lot attached to the southwest condo complex where she lives.

She immediately phoned the police. Officers advised the woman not to touch the vehicle and immediately came to investigate.

Const. Brian Denison of the hate crimes unit said investigators have made inquiries in the neighbourhood and are looking for surveillance video.

“We’ll make sure we investigate it thoroughly and are looking at laying charges,” Denison said.

Unfortunately, property damage motivated by hate is common in Calgary and one of the largest groupings of hate crimes in Canada, the constable said.

“There’s a lot of that happening, but not in the public eye. People are doing this in the cloak of darkness, where no one really knows,” Denison said, adding many of the perpetrators tend to be between the ages of 13 and 23. “It’s somebody scratching hateful things in cars and swastikas on schools and synagogues.”

Mohamed said she’s had minor racist comments directed at her before, but has never experienced such an incident where property damage has been done.

“I had to do a double-take,” she said. “I thought it was a joke. I tried to rub it off, but once it hits you and reality sets in, it’s permanent damage and it’s gross ignorance.”

Mohamed said she suspects she knows who was behind the hurtful vandalism — someone with whom she has had a run-in before — and has passed that information on to police.

Now she’s stuck dealing with the insurance company and finding an autobody shop to repair the damage.

In addition to the racist word, Mohamed said an unknown symbol was carved into the hood, the passenger door was kicked in, and the rear bumper was damaged.

The vehicle will have to be repainted at a cost she estimated at upwards of $4,000.

In the meantime, she’s driving the car with a white garbage bag partially concealing the vandalism.

“Who does this in 2012?” Mohamed said. “Apparently people still do, but I can’t wrap my head around it.”

cho@calgaryherald.com

© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald

 

If anyone has any information please contact the police.

Does Paulie Support McKee's Violence? We Think We Can Infer the Answer is Yes

Back on March 16, we wrote a article detailing Calgary Blood & Honour leader Kyle McKee's enthusiastic support for and promotion of violence as a means to achieve his goals. During the time we were able to question him, we specifically asked whether Paul Fromm, a man who has continually supported McKee and the groups he founded (Aryan Guard followed by Blood & Honour). McKee's answer was somewhat ambivalent, stating he didn't think Paulie would promote the use of violence and that he wasn't sure what Paulie was aware of regarding his use of violence.

So we decided to ask the man himself.

We sent Paulie the following message on March 17:

January 2012 Bites and Bites

First, some kudos are due. Our friend Dr. Dawg managed to scoop up on our own turf.

Neo-nazi to assist at Calgary gun show

According to John Marleau’s Facebook profile: “I am working a gun show the 14th. Lol. Who is heading over?”

That would be this event. Move along. Nothing to see here. 

Good on ya Dawg! Of course now we're going to have to do something to reclaim our preeminence (tongue firmly planted in cheek) in the field of covering street-level boneheads. 

Stay tuned.

In less happy news:

Vigil at Jewish Cemetery in Victoria, BC

We had posted this story earlier.

Today a vigil at the cemetery was held. Harry Abrams sent us a number of photographs indicating that this event was very well attended, something which is obviously very positive:

Here is some documentation for today's historic event. A special thank you to Rabbi Harry Brechner and everyone involved including the nice people who restored the vandalized grave stones to a pristine condition. The event began at 1 pm, lasted perhaps an hour or so. Was attended by a crowd estimated at being at least 1000 people, which is an unprecedented number to have ever had in our cemetery within living memory. 

I have posted the videos and photos from the event here, and you can download them for viewing and consideration. Please send them around to others who might be concerned or interested in this matter. 

Harry Abrams

Gatineau Mosque Hit Again

Again, we would ask our readers to help us out on this one.

Gatineau mosque again hit by vandals

WARNING: This article contains images with offensive language

CBC News
Posted: Jan 5, 2012 2:44 PM ET   Last Updated: Jan 5, 2012 7:10 PM ET  

A mosque in Gatineau, Que., that has been a target of vandalism was spray-painted with graffiti overnight.

Workers at the Outaouais Islamic Centre awoke Thursday to discover swear words and derogatory references to Arabs and Allah spray-painted in white.

The vandals painted messages on the front doors, across the building's side and on two other entrances to the building.

The mosque had earlier been vandalized Monday morning when windows were damaged and someone attempted to set fire to two cars in the parking lot.

Jewish Graveyard in Victoria Vandalized

We've been given a lot of good tips regarding old and recent examples of vandalism and harassment. We're hoping our readers can step up and help us with this one as well.

Jewish community reeling after five gravestones desecrated

By Erin McCracken - Victoria News
Published: January 04, 2012 3:00 PM
Updated: January 04, 2012 3:50 PM

Wounded, hurt, angry. 

Those feelings channeled through Rabbi Harry Brechner after learning that five historic gravestones in Emanu-El Jewish Cemetery in Victoria – all belonging to Holocaust survivors – had been desecrated. 

Victoria police say the large stones were spray-painted with black swastikas and other images sometime between 8 p.m. on Dec. 30 and the early morning hours of Dec. 31.

Vandalism of Mosque in Gatineau

Gatineau mosque attack called hate crime

Incident follows recent vandalism at mosque
CBC News
Posted: Jan 4, 2012 8:48 AM ET  Last Updated: Jan 4, 2012 9:59 AM ET 

An unsolved attack on a Gatineau, Que., mosque is being called a hate crime by a national Muslim organization, after cars were smashed earlier this week.

Newmarket Couple Targeted With Racial Harassment

Before we post the "Toronto Star" article, we've learned that our friend John Marleau might be in a little trouble with the law again. We received a not from a reader saying that they saw Marleau at the court house (we assume the one downtown) and he looked less than pleased. So if that individual would like to get in touch with us again we would be very interested to know why he is in trouble now.

In the meantime, here's something else our readers can help with. The police can't seem to find out who is responsible for this harassment. Perhaps our readers can:

Racist vandalism shocks Newmarket couple
Published On Wed Dec 28 2011

Jayme Poisson Staff Reporter

 

A string of racist vandalism against a black man and his white partner has shocked a collegial Newmarket neighbourhood and pushed a couple to the brink.

The latest of three incidents happened sometime between Christmas Eve night and early Christmas morning, according to York Region police.

Rita Brown, who along with her partner, Seun Oyinsan, moved into a home this summer on quiet suburban Hodgson Dr., discovered the “N” word scratched on the hood of her car Christmas Day.

That came nearly 3 ½ months after two other attacks on their home and vehicles. During the first, on Sept. 

Mosque in Hamilton Targeted

Let's see.

White guy.

Bald.

Bomber jacket.

Someone suggested it looks like J.H.

Thoughts?

Editorial cartoon posted on mosque door prompts hate crime investigation 

• Nicole O’Reilly
• Wed Dec 07 2011 

Hamilton Downtown Mosque leaders are saying they are the victims of a hate crime after two copies of a cartoon depicting a caveman dropping a Quran into an open fire were taped to the women’s prayer entrance.

What Does Calgary's Blood & Honour Hate Group Have in Common With MPP Randy Hillier and Ontario P.C. Leader Tim Hudak?

The answer?

Jeff Goodall.

Now, to clarify. We don't think that either Hillier or Hudak would support the values of Kyle McKee's Blood & Honour gang. Well, at least overtly. But upon reading our friend BCL's latest post regarding what he termed the "turmoil" in the Tory camp, Goodall's name jumped out at us.