This past Sunday the group Red Deer Against Racism with speakers from the Rural Alberta Against Racism (RAAR) and the Black and Indigenous Alliance Alberta (BIAA) had planned on holding a rally in the city of Red Deer, AB. Similar rallies had been held in other rural communities where members of those communities spoke about their experiences with racism in rural Alberta. The events attracted people from both outside these communities and within and were always peaceful and included families.
Then Pat King decided to Pat King all over their efforts:
After threatening demonstrators who “come to my f****** town," Pat King is organizing against an anti-racist rally on Sunday, September 20, at 4 pm in Red Deer, Alberta. https://t.co/BmVtDTg48k
— Canadian Anti-Hate Network (@antihateca) September 18, 2020
Despite being the one who threatened the members of RAAR and their supporters with violence should they come to "his town", King unsurprisingly claimed that they were the ones who were violent. The thing is, King knows this to be untrue. He harassed members of RAAR at another event and at still another he hid in the bushes filming the rally. In neither incident was he touched and in the second he was ignored:
No Pat, this isn't creepy at all. |
But then the truth isn't of great importance to these people.
So on the day of the rally a large group of hatriots showed up to harass, threaten, intimidate, and attack people who showed up for the rally:
Red Deer, AB
— Taylor McNallie (@TaylorMadeYYC) September 21, 2020
"Patriots" came in truck loads to attack people who came to attend an organized event on anti-racism.
Here's my bf getting punched in the head after serving Pat King a restraining order.
Police did nothing.@RCMPAlberta @RachelNotley @antihateca @YYCantiracist pic.twitter.com/jYwfNCmUac
Now the hatriots, who included in their number such august groups as the Soldiers of Odin, Yellow Vests, and Woke Onez Rebellion (I mean, they have to be kidding with that name, right?) were pleased as punch to have been able to shut down an anti-racist rally. However, one thing they never considered were (a) optics and (b) intel gathering opportunities.
First with the optics.
Media that reported on the event, at least Edmonton City News which has been widely shared, clearly showed that the hatriots were the ones who where there to cause problems and to hurt people:
Anti-racism demonstration was not a ‘peaceful protest’ as sides spar in Red Deer
— Drew (@nolifeneet) September 21, 2020
Article says there was "verbal assaults" and "moments of tension" which doesn't really say much.https://t.co/MyhJNcDeRz
The backlash appears to have surprised the hatriots who genuinely seem to think that their actions would be viewed favorably. To be clear, they were not and political figures from accross the spectrum condemned the attacks on the anti-racist rally goers:
As @KayceeMaduYEG said on Sunday's Red Deer protests, all Albertans, regardless of race, religion, or creed, have the right to peaceful protest & we denounce any instance of racism, bigotry, or intolerance.
— Jason Kenney (@jkenney) September 22, 2020
The RCMP have opened an investigation; we await the result of that work. pic.twitter.com/xFRWKTEWSe
As @KayceeMaduYEG said on Sunday's Red Deer protests, all Albertans, regardless of race, religion, or creed, have the right to peaceful protest & we denounce any instance of racism, bigotry, or intolerance.
— Jason Kenney (@jkenney) September 22, 2020
The RCMP have opened an investigation; we await the result of that work. pic.twitter.com/xFRWKTEWSe
This is not what #RedDeer is about. This city is inclusive, tolerant, and welcoming. What we saw Sunday is an abhorrent example of the racist violence that is experienced by racialized people. We must confront and condemn racism and hate in all its forms. We must be anti-racist. pic.twitter.com/TNcacQW6CF
— Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley) September 22, 2020
This is not what #RedDeer is about. This city is inclusive, tolerant, and welcoming. What we saw Sunday is an abhorrent example of the racist violence that is experienced by racialized people. We must confront and condemn racism and hate in all its forms. We must be anti-racist. pic.twitter.com/TNcacQW6CF
— Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley) September 22, 2020
I’m deeply disturbed by the events that occurred in Red Deer. I strongly condemn any threats of violence against people that are participating in peaceful assemblies. Attempts to intimidate, coerce, or attack individuals expressing their Charter rights is an attack on democracy. https://t.co/epxqpEOUOW
— Leela Sharon Aheer (@LeelaAheer) September 22, 2020
It is profoundly troubling to see such events like this. I strongly condemn the act of muzzling the voices commending universal rights of justice, peace, and harmony. Racism is a hideous crime against society; we must work together to end systemic racism in AB. #AbLeg #EndRacism https://t.co/MC298g6HQW
— Jasvir Deol (@JasvirDeol_) September 22, 2020
Granted, some readers may be reasonably skeptical about the condemnation of the racists by certain figures listed above, but it still goes to indicate that even they realize that aligning one's self with groups such as those who attacked the anti-racist rally isn't politically expedient.
Then there's this:
It is profoundly troubling to see such events like this. I strongly condemn the act of muzzling the voices commending universal rights of justice, peace, and harmony. Racism is a hideous crime against society; we must work together to end systemic racism in AB. #AbLeg #EndRacism https://t.co/MC298g6HQW
— Jasvir Deol (@JasvirDeol_) September 22, 2020
Again, I'm certainly not about to hold my breath that anything is going to happen (hope springs eternal however), but it is the result of pressure from the public that resulted in an investigation in the first place. This has to be at least somewhat jarring to those hatriot who believe the public are on their side, at least to the few who have any ability to engage in a degree of critical thinking.
Then there are the intel gathering opportunities.
Sure, there were a lot of people we already recognize from elsewhere. There was Pat King of course as well as members of the SoO from both Calgary and Red Deer:
Ashley Wagner, Richard Wagner, and Terry Lefranc |
By the way, if these particular members of the SoO claim their aren't racists we invite them to take a look at this article published earlier in the month:
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