CALGARY- What a difference a few years can make.
Back in 2008, the neo-Nazi movement in Calgary was at its peak, with white supremacists offering to pay damage deposits for anyone with similar beliefs who wanted to move to the city. They posted flyers, trying to lure new members, and wore their message of hate proudly. Anti-Semitic slogans and swastikas targeted the Jewish community.
“It was a real shocker for us,” says Rabbi Miller, adding he could only pray it wasn’t the start of a hate crimes movement in the city. He adds the vandalism struck fear in the community.
“Calgary really is a community, and a crime like this I think tears at the social fabric in a terrible way.”
Fast forward to 2013. A weekend anti-racism rally—traditionally a magnet for white supremacist groups—only featured two men, holding signs saying ‘white pride.’
All it took was the arrests of a few key leaders to slow the group down.
“When we are talking about hate groups like white supremacist groups, there’s a bit of an ebb and flow,” explains Cst. Eric Levesque, Calgary Police Hate Crimes Coordinator. “First of all, they are on the margins of society, so there are very few of them really.
“It has a lot to do with the influential people in those groups, people that are leaders. So, if you have a situation where there’s disruption of leaders and they move out of province or end up incarcerated, then you do tend to see less activity.”
Police hope the diminished attendance of white supremacists at this year’s anti-racism rally is an indication that peace has been achieved.
With files from Nancy Hixt
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