The Heritage Front
The community reaction to the
Heritage Front has been strong.
The widespread rejection of
Droege and organization is exemplified
in the two case studies that follow. In each situation the
Heritage Front was attacked in the area of recruitment and the groups
responding to the Heritage Front moved beyond reactive demonstration
to proactive community outreach and education.
Attacking the Hotlines - The Canadian Human Rights Commission
In September of 1991 Rodney Bobiwash then the Race Relations
Co-ordinator of the Native Canadian Centre lodged a complaint with
the Mayor's Committee on Race Relations over the Heritage Front's
racist hotline messages. Bobiwash charged that the messages targeted
and promoted hatred against aboriginal people. Messages in June 1992
threatened violence towards Bobiwash who asked police to investigate.
One message recorded after the complaint was lodged claimed that the
agenda of those opposed to the Heritage Front "is the annihilation of
the White race. We will be basing our case on that premise. It's no
hogwash Bobby we are looking at the hate laws as they may be applied
to you. Anyone can get scalped so get ready."
Following these messages Bobiwash asked the Canadian Human Rights
Commission to seek a temporary court injunction to stop the
Heritage Front messages pending a CHRC hearing into the case in October l991.
A related court proceeding brought about a shoving match between
Heritage Front members and anti-racists outside the courthouse.
Throughout 1993 and 1994
Gary Schipper, Wolfgang Droege and
Kenneth
Barker constantly and deliberately violated a court ruling forcing
them to stop transmitting hate messages. In June and July of 1994
all three men served jail time for contempt of court.
In August 1992 The Native Canadian Centre started Klanbusters, an
anti-racist hotline. This hotline served to inform the public of the
activities of neo-Nazi groups which affect the Toronto area. It
included updates on the distribution of hate group recruitment
materials the endeavours of White supremacist leaders and the
activities of the
Heritage Front and similar groups. The hotline
urged listeners to report any racist occurrences. The Native Centre
also published Klanbusters Update which provided information on hate
groups and community action against racism. All of the actions of
Bobiwash and the Native Canadian Centre have been effective
challenging the Heritage Front both legally and from a community
perspective. The League for Human Rights has been vocal in its
support of these efforts and has contributed assistance to the
Native Centre and to the CHRC whenever appropriate and possible.
Attacking the Flyers - Anti-Racist Community Groups
In January 1992 Citizens Against Racism (CAR) a grass-roots
volunteer organization was formed as a response to the littering of
the Riverdale neighbourhood with the Heritage Front's racist and
offensive flyers. Concerned Riverdale citizens filed complaints
with the police and with the assistance of the League for Human
Rights established connections with other community anti-racism
groups such as the Urban Alliance on Race Relations and the
Native Canadian Centre. CAR produced and circulated their own
counter-flyer which gave information for Riverdale residents on
whom to contact to lodge a complaint. In March 1992 CAR approached
MP Dennis Mills and described the extent of leafleting in the
neighbourhood. Following CAR's recommendation a new anti-racist
flyer was produced and circulated by Mills' constituency office
throughout the riding. The circulation of both flyers resulted
in positive feedback and increased community awareness.
Joint Community Action
CAR broadened its efforts in March 1992 by organizing an
Anti-Racism rally at Queen's Park, to mark the United Nations
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
and to specifically refute the ideas of the Heritage Front. In
addition to a letter-writing campaign to former Ontario Education
minister Tony Silipo regarding
Paul Fromm, CAR was also active in
the demonstration in June 1992 at Queen's Park, to counter the
Heritage Front's planned rally in support of the jailed
Metzgers.
The League played a large part in both of the 1992 CAR rallies,
participating in the planning, as well as providing speakers,
publicity, and support. The Anti-Racist Response Network (ARRN)
of the Urban Alliance on Race Relations is the vehicle through
which the networking for community coalitions and rallies has
continued, with the ongoing involvement of CAR, the League, the
Native Centre, the CJC, Klanbusters, municipal and provincial
committees, and many other concerned citizens.
Another major group active in combating the Heritage Front is
Anti-Racist Action (ARA), a Toronto-based coalition of committed
opponents to the Front. ARA is a street-level group often
engaging in violent confrontation against the Front. While many
are opposed to the tactics of the group, ARA has definitely had
an impact on the Heritage Front. In confrontations in front of
courthouses, counter-rallies in Ottawa and Montreal, and in
anti-HF marches, they have made it clear to the Front that they
will not be tolerated in Canada. In a more proactive ARA has also
been an important presence in high schools, educating students
about the Heritage Front and other White supremacist groups.
Countering Recruitment Activity
The Heritage Front and other hate groups single out students
for recruitment. Junior high school- through university-aged
individuals are often lulled into White supremacist activities
through pamphlets, racist rock tapes and concerts, speeches, and
through friends that have already joined hate groups.
Despite the success of many of these recruitment efforts, there
are ways to recognize and combat racist advances among youths.
Experienced members of human rights and anti-racist groups are
increasingly being invited to schools to speak to students about
hate activities. Through the promotion of multicultural programmes,
joint efforts with police forces, and anti-racist training in the
classroom, it is possible to stem the tide of White supremacist
recruiting in the schools.
In 1993 the Human Rights Youth League was founded by B'nai Brith
Canada as a non-violent response to hate group activity in high
schools and universities. This multicultural group boasts members
aged 14 to 24 throughout the Greater Toronto area, and opened a
chapter in Montreal in July 1994. Through presentations on racism
in schools, summer camps and other public fora, the Youth League
provides a strong counterweight to the vicious hatred promoted by
White supremacist groups. A Youth League colloquium planned for
October 1994, supported by a grant from the Ontario Anti-Racism
Secretariat, will feature an anti-racist rock concert and a full
day of lectures, speakers and discussion groups to develop skills
combat prejudice and hatred.
The
original plaintext version
of this file is available via
ftp.
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Countering the Heritage Front