White Supremacy in Canada
- Details
- Published on Friday, 18 August 2017 15:00
- Written by editor
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer has shocking ties to a Canadian white supremacist website that broadcast live from the recent protests in Charlottesville.
Join the call for Scheer to cut ties with Rebel Media
Sign the petitionThe world is in shock after a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville turned violent, ending with a terrorist attack that killed one anti-racist protester, and injured almost 20 others. [1]
Faith Goldy, a contributor to the Canadian far-right website Rebel Media, was broadcasting live from Charlottesville and caught the attack on tape. Moments before, she had been on camera mocking the anti-racist protestors, rationalizing the white supremacist rally and making the case that the white supremacists were being treated unfairly by police and the media. [2]
Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer has disturbing connections to this far-right website. He hired a Rebel Media Director, Hamish Marshall, to manage his campaign for party leader. And after Scheer won the leadership, he gave the white supremacist website a one-on-one interview. [3]
After Charlottesville, we all need to take responsibility for denouncing acts of white supremacy, regardless of our political ideology. A massive public outcry could force Scheer to publicly denounce Rebel Media and show that white supremacist ideas aren’t welcome in Canada.
The violence in Charlottesville didn’t come out of nowhere. For years, far-right websites like Beitbart and now Rebel Media have been stoking the flames of hate and white supremacy in dark corners of the internet.
The election of a U.S. President who legitimizes and amplifies their dangerous white supremacist ideas, has emboldened the extreme right to bring their violent ideas out of the shadows and into the streets.
It’s a cautionary tale about the risks of politicians endorsing the views of far-right white supremacist websites.
Rebel Media is “Canada’s Breitbart”, bringing the same ugly ideas home to Canada. They’ve published tirades against Jews, organized anti-Islam rallies, and warned of “white genocide” in Canada. [4-5]
Canada is not immune from the growth of extreme right wing groups. A study last year found that such groups are already active throughout Canada. [6]
The support of Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer could give Rebel Media political legitimacy to bring their dangerous ideas into the mainstream -- just like Trump’s support for Breitbart emboldened white supremacists to come out into the open.
After their racist coverage of the Charlottesville protests, conservative politicians are starting to speak out against Rebel Media. And just today, one of the site’s co-founders announced he is leaving the organization due to their increasing association with white supremacy.[7] A huge petition could create the pressure and media attention needed to also convince Scheer to distance himself from Rebel Media. [8]
It’s tempting to hope that if we ignore Rebel Media, they might wither away. But thanks to social media, they are growing steadily, and now they have connections to the leader of the Conservative Party. We can’t afford to ignore them any longer.
If we can convince Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer to cut ties with Rebel Media, it will undermine their legitimacy and keep their hateful ideas out of the mainstream. Will you add your name to the petition now?
https://act.leadnow.ca/rebel-media/
We’re in this together,
Jolan and Logan, on behalf of the entire Leadnow.ca team
Sources:
[1] One dead as car strikes crowds amid protests of white nationalist gathering in Charlottesville; two police die in helicopter crash (Washington Post). https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/fights-in-advance-of-saturday-protest-in-charlottesville/2017/08/12/155fb636-7f13-11e7-83c7-5bd5460f0d7e_story.html?utm_term=.e7dc16818999
[2] The Rebel Had An Awful Lot Of Sympathy For The White Supremacists In Charlottesville (Canadaland). http://www.canadalandshow.com/rebel-faith-goldy-white-supremacists-charlottesville/
[3] New Tory leader Andrew Scheer campaign linked with controversial Rebel Media (Global News). http://globalnews.ca/news/3485784/andrew-scheer-rebel-media/
[4] Yep, Ezra Levant's Rebel Media officially became an international embarrassment this week (Press Progress). https://www.pressprogress.ca/yep_ezra_levant_rebel_media_officially_became_an_international_embarrassment_this_week
[5] Rebel Media’s Freedom Rally was Bonkers (Torontoist). http://torontoist.com/2017/02/rebel-media-freedom-rally-was-bonkers-video/
[6] Right-wing extremist groups ‘prevalent’ across Canada, study warns (National Post):
http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/right-wing-extremist-groups-prevalent-across-canada-study-warns/wcm/90cb1ddc-ffb0-4245-a108-38624616827b
[7] Co-founder of The Rebel, Brian Lilley, leaves the conservative media website (Toronto Star) https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/08/15/co-founder-of-the-rebel-brian-lilley-leaves-the-conservative-media-website.html
[8] Alberta United Conservative Leadership Candidate: Rebel Media is ‘Defending Nazis’ (Press Progress). https://www.pressprogress.ca/alberta_united_conservative_leadership_candidate_rebel_media_is_defending_nazis
Please support the Leadnow.ca community! We're funded by people like you, and our small, dedicated team and growing community make sure your donation goes a long way. Every dollar helps. You can donate online at http://www.leadnow.ca/en/donate
Leadnow.ca is an independent campaigning community that brings Canadians together to hold government accountable, deepen our democracy and take action for the common good. You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.
Leadnow.ca - À l’Action est une communauté indépendante qui souhaite réunir les Canadiens afin de demander des comptes au gouvernement, approfondir notre démocratie et passer à l’action pour le bien commun. Suivre sur Twitter, Facebook, et Google+.
Leadnow.ca, PO Box 2091, Stn Terminal, Vancouver, BC, V6B 3T2 — 1‑855‑LEADN0W | 1‑855‑532‑3609
