Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents 1995 Presented by The League For Human Rights of B'nai Brith Canada League for Human Rights Lyle Smordin, National Chair Rochelle Wilner, National Vice-Chair Mark Sandler, Senior Counsel Dr. Karen Mock, National Director B'nai Brith Canada Brian Morris, National President Frank Dimant, Executive Vice-President Pearl Gladman, Director of Field Services Rubin Friedman, Government Relations Director This report was prepared by Dr. Karen Mock, National Director of the League for Human Rights, with ssistance from Richard J Berman. Some text in this volume was extracted from previous publications of the League. We are grateful to the volunteers, students and staff for their contribution both to this report and to the continuing work of the League for Human Rights. We also acknowledge the invaluable contributions of everyone who assisted us with the collection of data for this edition of the Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents. Special thanks are due to the Hate Crimes Units in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Winnipeg for their co-operation and their ongoing efforts to combat hate and bias crime in Canada. No part of this book may be produced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. (c) 1996 League for Human Rights B'nai Brith Canada 15 Hove Street, Downsview Ontario M3H 4Y8 Tel:(416) 633-6224 Fax:(416) 630-2159 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION DEFINITIONS AND DATA COLLECTION Vandalism. Harassment THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN CANADA. SUMMARY OF DATA Nature of Incidents by Year Geographic Distribution of Incidents From Coast to Coast - Highlights of Specific Incidents HATE IN CANADA. The State of the Neo-Nazi Right. The Current Climate - Highlights of Issues and Trends. The Climate in Quebec. Anti-Semitism in the Media. Documentaries Highlight Hate. Missionaries Target Canada's Jews . The Internet: The Battle (Flame War?) Heats Up THE LEAGUE RESPONDS TO ANTI-SEMITISM AND HATE Education and Research Legal/Legislative Initiatives. Community Partnerships . CONCLUSION APPENDIX. Hotline Incident Reporting Form. TABLES AND FIGURES Table 1 - Nature of Incidents by Year Figure 1 - Nature of Incidents by Year Figure 1 (a) - Number of Incidents - Three Year Average Figure I (b) - Incidents of Vandalism by Year. Figure 1 (c) - Incidents of Harassment by Year Figure 2 - Geographic Distribution of Incidents. Table 2 - Geographic Distribution of Incidents. INTRODUCTION B'nai Brith Canada has been at the forefront of the battle against anti-Semitism, racism and bigotry for more than a century. Through the League for Human Rights, B'nai Brith monitors the activities of hate groups in Canada and documents all reported incidents of anti-Semitism. The Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, published annually since 1982 by the League for Human Rights, is a major vehicle for reporting our findings to the public. In 1995, incidents of anti-Semitism continued to become more diffuse in nature. Whereas trends in hatred and bigotry directed at Canada's Jews between 1991 and 1993 were linked to specific activities, including the Gulf War and the rise of the Heritage Front and other neo-Nazi groups in Canada, the last two years have seen a more random pattern of anti- Semitism in this country. Despite the decline of organized hate activity, several "mainstream" incidents of anti-Semitism in the last year proved to be equally disturbing. In September, two Toronto- based radio broadcasters made overtly anti-Semitic comments over the public airwaves. Although both commentators apologized for their remarks, the fact that they felt comfortable enough to air their biased views, as did several journalists in various communities and on campuses across the country, is a matter of serious concern for Canadian Jews. In October and November, the Quebec referendum also produced a flurry of bigotry directed at the non-Francophone population of the province. Jacques Parizeau, who was then premier of Quebec, lashed out at "the ethnic vote" for the narrow losses of his separatist forces. In earlier stages of the referendum campaign, Pierre Bourgault, a communications advisor to Parizeau, cryptically warned Quebec Jews of "a dangerous situation" if they openly supported the federalist side. The significance of these events cannot be overstated. While the comments made by the politicians or the broadcasters were by no means as virulently intolerant as the charged rhetoric of the neo-Nazi right, their remarks served as signals that expressions of hatred and bias against Jews and other minorities were acceptable in contemporary Canadian culture. For political leaders and media personalities to espouse views hostile to Jews gives a message to the general population: anti-Semitism continues to be part of the canon of our culture. The press and politicians set the tone and terms of debate in our free and democratic state. They have the responsibility to condemn, not to promote, racism. Unfortunately, in 1995, this ideal was seriously compromised. Despite these cases, positive steps have been made in fighting anti-Semitism, racism and bigotry in Canada this year. The influence and impact of neo-Nazi groups continues to sputter as a result of the legal troubles of many of the movement's leaders and by a lack of available money. In 1995, George Burdi, Dan Sims and Wolfgang Droege all served time in jail, which served to hamper the recruitment efforts of the racist-right. New legislation, including the controversial Bill C-41, passed the House of Commons and the Senate, clearing the way for sentence enhancement for perpetrators of hate-motivated crimes. This law recognizes the serious impact of crimes directed at minority communities, and provides for penalties which reflect the increased severity of the offenses. Despite these positive developments, Holocaust denier Ernst Zundel is continuing his worldwide distribution of anti- Semitic books, tracts and electronic broadcasts from his headquarters in downtown Toronto. The pace of spreading hate and Holocaust denial via the Internet is speeding up, and Jewish-owned homes and businesses, as well as schools and synagogues, continue to be targets for vandalism and harassment. The annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents has been praised by community organizations, police departments, and government agencies from across Canada as a valuable resource in the battle against racism and hate activity. By providing an analysis of the nature and extent of reported anti-Semitic activity in Canada, the Audit provides a model for data collection and analysis, and helps guide decisions in resource allocation, legislative development, and plans for formal educational initiatives to confront racist attitudes and to sensitize all Canadians to the problems of hatred and intolerance. DEFINITIONS AND DATA COLLECTION The annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents is a record of reported incidents only. The Audit depends on the voluntary reporting of anti-Semitic incidents to the League for Human Rights through B'nai Brith offices and the nationwide B'nai Brith Lodge network. Recorded incidents may have been reported by victims directly to our offices, or may have been reported by other sources. Experts in the analysis of crime, including officers in police intelligence units, suggest that only a small percentage (in the neighbourhood of approximately 10%) of hate crimes or harassment are ever reported to any source. The situation is akin to spousal or child abuse, both of which are notoriously under-reported. Reported incidents are documented and analyzed by League staff for corroboration, and to determine appropriate courses of action. Proper investigation is vital to determine whether reported incidents are indeed racially- motivated, and whether they are anti-Semitic in nature. For example, harassment of a Jewish person in the workplace may be real but may not be anti-Semitic. As well, while general pamphleteering by a hate group will be condemned by the League, and while the League will be actively involved in countering its effects, if such pamphleteering does not specifically target Jews, then for the purposes of the Audit, it will not be included as an anti-Semitic incident. Finally, where an anti-Semitic mail campaign takes place, or where a number of Jewish businesses or people are targeted by one group or one individual for harassment or vandalism in a defined area over a defined period of time, such events are recorded as a single incident. Incidents are catalogued for the Audit in two broad categories: Vandalism Vandalism is defined as an act involving physical damage to property. It includes graffiti, swastikas, desecrations of cemeteries and synagogues, other property damage, arson and other criminal acts such as thefts and break-ins where an anti-Semitic motive can be determined. Harassment Harassment includes anti-Semitic hate propaganda distribution, hate mail and verbal slurs or acts of discrimination against individuals. Death threats and bomb threats against individuals and property, as well as any kind of physical assault, are also included in this broader category. THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN CANADA - a brief overview The 1991 census published by Statistics Canada reported that 356,315 of the 27 million people in Canada were Jewish. This amounts to only 1.3% of the entire population of the country. In 1991, Toronto and Montreal were reported to have 162,605 and 101,210 Jewish residents respectively, and no other locale had more than 20,000 Jewish residents. In fact, Jews comprise less than one half of one per cent of the population of Canada outside of the two aforementioned cities. The fact that Toronto and Montreal have the two largest Jewish communities in Canada (three quarters of the Jews in this country live in these two urban areas , with 45.6% in Metropolitan Toronto, and 28.4% of Canada's Jews living in Greater Montreal) accounts for the fact that the overwhelming majority of reported cases of anti-Semitism occur in these centres. Vancouver, the third largest Canadian city, has 19,375 Jewish residents (5.8% of the Jews in Canada), 1.3% of the total Vancouver population of 1,584,115. The Ottawa-Hull area, known as the National Capital Region, is home to nearly 12,000 Jews, 3.3 % of the Jewish population in Canada. Winnipeg, with 15,000 Jewish residents, has the highest concentration of Jews (2.3%) of any city other than Montreal (3.3%) and Toronto (4.2%). In no other Canadian urban area do Jews make up more than one per cent of the total population. Jews have lived in Canada since the 18th century. However, the first significant waves of Jewish immigration from Europe started in the 1870's. Eastern European Jews often moved to Winnipeg or to rural areas to work as farmers - one of the few occupations for which immigrants were allowed into Canada. During the Second World War the Canadian government refused to allow Jewish immigrants fleeing the Holocaust to enter this country, with one government official stating that "none is too many" when asked how many Jews would be let into Canada. However, thousands of Jewish war survivors were permitted entry in the late 1940's and 1950's. The impact of post-war emigres on the Canadian Jewish community is perhaps the most significant difference between patterns in American and Canadian Jewish immigration. Holocaust survivors who came to Canada comprise a more significant percentage of the total Jewish community here than in the United States, largely because the Canadian government had restricted Jewish immigration earlier. Until the 1970's Montreal was regarded as the principal hub of Canadian Jewry. Although other cities had Jewish communities, Montreal was the oldest and largest, and was considered the most important Jewish centre in Canada. However, the threat of Quebec separation in the mid-1970's was a frightening prospect for many Jews, the vast majority of whom were Anglophone. Thousands of Montreal jobs were relocated to Ontario, as were tens of thousands of Montreal's Jews. Although the new census data will not be available until late in 1996, a recent study conducted by J. Torczyner, D. Brotman, and J. Brodbar (1995) entitiled "Rapid Growth and Transformation: Demographic Challenges Facing the Jewish Community of Greater Toronto" suggests further shifts in the Jewish population, particularly in the wake of the ongoing Quebec Referendum debate and the increase in nationalist rhetoric. Today, Toronto is considered the Jewish capital of Canada, with approximately 165,000 people in the community. Canadian Jewry tends to be more traditional than the American Jewish population. In 1990, forty per cent of affiliated Jews identified themselves as Orthodox, another forty per cent as Conservative, and twenty per cent as members of the Reform movement. As well, in recent years Reconstructionist congregations have opened in Toronto and Montreal. SUMMARY OF DATA Nature of Incidents by Year There were 331 anti-Semitic incidents reported to the League for Human Rights in 1995. This represents an increase of 12.1% over the 290 incidents in 1994, and the highest number reported in 14 years of documentation. The number of reported incidents of anti-Semitic vandalism was 80, a decrease of 13% from the 92 incidents reported last year. It is likely that the demise of such groups as the Church of the Creator, and the disarray of the Heritage Front, has contributed to this decrease in vandalism. But the decrease can also be attributed to increased prosecutions and community vigilance and education. Despite the drop in vandalism, in 1995 anti-Semitic harassment, which includes the distribution of hate propaganda, was at its highest level. Anti-Semitic harassment rose to 251 reported incidents in 1995 from 198 in 1994, an increase of 20.8% Table 1 and Figure 1 (below) summarize the total number of anti- Semitic incidents reported to the League for Human Rights of B'nai Brith Canada over the last 14 years. Figures 1(a), (b) and (c) present the three year total averages, and incidents of vandalism and harassment respectively. Table 1 League for Human Rights - 1995 Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents Nature of Incidents by year Year Vandalism Harassment Total ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------- 1982 19 44 63 1983 25 23 48 1984 60 66 26 1985 52 43 95 1986 23 32 55 1987 18 37 55 1988 52 60 112 1989 63 113 176 1990 60 150 210 1991 50 201 251 1992 46 150 196 1993 105 151 256 1994 9 198 290 1995 80 251 331 [Comparative graphs omitted during transcription. knm] Geographic Distribution of Incidents There were 159 reported incidents of anti-Semitism this year in Toronto, up 8.1% from 146 incidents last year. Toronto is the largest city in Canada, and is also home to the largest Jewish population. Not surprisingly, anti- Semitic incidents in Toronto represented 48% of all reported incidents in 1995. Montreal, which last year reported 55 incidents, had 52 anti- Semitic cases in 1995 (15.7% of the total), while Ottawa figures remained consistent in 1995 with 37 reported cases (11.2%), 36 in 1994. Last year the Audit reported an appreciable increase in reported incidents in smaller communities in Ontario, other than Toronto and Ottawa. The 28 incidents in 1994 represented a 40% increase over the year before, and this year there were 29 anti-Semitic incidents in these regions, 8.8% of the total number of reported incidents in Canada. It is clear that as police hate crimes units clamp down on hate and bias crimes in the cities, hate groups have increased their recruitment activity in regional communities, such as Pickering, Brampton, Oakville, St. Catharines and the Niagara region. Winnipeg reported 14 incidents, consistent with the number of reported cases of anti-Semitism over the last four years, and 4.2% of all incidents. However, a significant increase in reported incidents occurred in the western provinces in 1995. The total in Alberta and Saskatchewan was 13 in 1995, up from 2 reported cases in 1994; and the number of reported incidents in British Columbia jumped from 5 in 1994 to 23 in 1995, representing 6.9% of the total number in Canada. It is important to note that it is likely this dramatic jump is due to two factors: there is indeed evidence that hate mongering activity has increased in the west, as will be elaborated below; but there has also been a strengthening of the B'nai Brith networks in the west, with a new lodge in Victoria, League leadership in Vancouver and Calgary, and stronger connections with other anti-racist groups who share information and intelligence, thereby increasing the likelihood of reporting when incidents occur. Figure 2 (below) presents a summary of the 1995 data by region. Table 2 provides a more detailed breakdown of the data, indicating the specific nature of the reported incidents. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF INCIDENTS Vandalism Harassment ============================================================ ======= Vandalism Harassment Threats Assaults 1995 1994 MARITIMES 3 3 1 QUEBEC Montreal 19 16 16 1 52 55 Other 1 1 2 ONTARIO Toronto 30 104 23 2 159 146 Ottawa 12 20 4 1 37 36 Other 6 19 3 1 29 28 MANITOBA 6 8 14 15 ALTA/SASK 5 7 1 13 2 B.C. 2 20 1 23 5 ============================================================ ======= 80 198 48 5 331 290 From Coast to Coast - Highlights of Specific Incidents January: "Toten Wir Juden" (Let's kill Jews) is written on a wall of Nepean High School, in suburban Ottawa. Police were notified. No perpetrators have been found. The notorious forgery, "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion" is distributed in Armstrong and Vernon B.C. February: Detergent is put into the locks of the front doors of Calgary's Congregation House of Jacob, Mikveh Israel. Police were notified. "Winston's Journal", published in Ponoka Alberta, asserts Jews are behind the abortion industry, refers to the Holocaust as the 'Holohoax', and declares itself to be a "beacon of light in the darkened land of ZOG". April: Glen Kealy, on radio in Vancouver, says Aryan Nations and Zundel are set-ups by the Rothschild bankers to divert attention from bankers' real activities. May: Holocaust denial material is sent to Kelowna Secondary School, originating from the Institute for Historical Review, but mailed locally. Charles Scott, Aryan of the Year, has hate-line announcing Jews are Satanic and the children of Lucifer, that 'Jew-parasites' lied about history and promote genocide through abortion. June: Anti-Semitic propaganda is received in at least three locations in Nova Scotia. Materials sent to the Anglo-Jewish media. August: Graffiti found on a wall in Toronto which reads "Don't believe in their promised land, kill the rich now." The incident was reported to the police and the graffiti was removed. October: The Yonge/Eglinton neighborhood of Toronto is plastered with "European Heritage Week" posters produced by the neo-Nazi Nationalist Party of Canada (NPOC). Copies of the offending posters were sent to B'nai Brith as well as to the Canadian Jewish Congress. The NPOC is headed by well known racist and anti-Semite Don Andrews. September: "Juden Raus" (Jews Out) is found written on a sign outside Vancouver's Har El Synagogue and the incident reported to police. November: Montreal's main Jewish Community Centre receives an anonymous letter stating "We would have won the referendum, if only Hitler would have done his job," someone imitating messages posted on the internet after the Referendum. A Jewish day school in Toronto receives a message on its telephone answering machine stating "This is Hitler, I'm going to burn down your f---ing school." The perpetrator has not been found. A law office in St. Catharines, Ontario, is vandalized with the words "Jew bastard". The incident was reported to local police. A professor at Concordia University in Montreal receives an anonymous note at his office containing swastikas and the words, "Dirty Jew". Perpetrator(s) have not been found. December: A "Jews for Jesus" advertisement is placed in the Toronto Star. The ad specifically called for Jews to accept Jesus as their messiah. Complaints were lodged with the paper's ombudsman's office, and the publisher extended an apology to the Jewish community for violating the Star's own guidelines. HATE IN CANADA The State of the Neo-Nazi Right The organized hate movement in Canada continued to struggle under the weight of legal challenges and public pressure. The Heritage Front (HF), from 1990 to 1993 the most important neo-Nazi group in Canada, is still reeling from declining membership, lack of money, and the legal troubles of its leaders. In 1995, the group's founder, Wolfgang Droege, served jail time for a 1993 assault. He was released in April, but remains on probation and subject to a lifetime weapons ban. In December, HF leader Max French and his ex-wife June were in court to appeal their convictions for violating a court order related to their operation of a telephone hate-line. Gerry Lincoln, the publisher of the HF newspaper Up Front, also faces charges for allegedly harassing anti-racists. Up Front did not publish an issue in the last several months of 1995 - a clear indication that the Heritage Front has fallen on hard times. Attempts by the Nationalist Party of Canada (NPOC), a group with close ties to the Heritage Front, to promote a European Heritage Week were unsuccessful for a second consecutive year. Last year's efforts, which included an ambitious letter-writing campaign to mayors across Canada, were foiled when Toronto's CITY TV broke the story in mid-1994. This year, the NPOC restricted its activities to placing posters throughout Toronto and in smaller towns in Southern Ontario. In Winnipeg, a similar effort by the National Action Party was equally unsuccessful. The meteoric rise of George Burdi appears to be crashing in Canada. Burdi first came to prominence as the Canadian leader of the Church of the Creator (COTC), a violent neo-Nazi group with connections also to the Identity Church movement based in the United States. As a young and eloquent speaker, he was a major asset for the recruiting efforts for the Heritage Front, of which he was also a member. In addition, he was the leader of RaHoWa (an acronym for "Racial Holy War"), a Toronto-based racist rock group. The band played at several neo-Nazi rallies, and released a cassette three years ago. Burdi was a major player in the Canadian racist right until the summer of 1993, when he was charged with assaulting an anti-racist demonstrator in Ottawa. Following his arrest, Burdi stopped making public appearances, and concentrated his efforts on running his racist music label, Resistance Records out of Detroit, and publishing his magazine, also called Resistance. In June 1995, Burdi was sentenced to a year in jail for the assault, and was paroled in September. However, his magazine has not appeared since his release, and it is reported that Burdi is no longer on good terms with many of his former allies. While Burdi will most likely try to make a comeback in 1996, his recent lack of success may be an indicator that George Burdi, the one-time wunderkind of the Canadian racist right, may no longer be a major player. Despite the failures of these individuals, there are certain people involved with the racist right who are still active in this country. In December, Holocaust denier Ernst Zundel found himself in court once again as a result of a criminal conspiracy charge. The preliminary hearing will be held early in 1996 to determine whether or not he goes to trial. However, Zundel is still actively distributing his hate, using both printed materials and a sophisticated link to the Worldwide Web (WWW). In December 1995, Paul Fromm held a public meeting of his Citizens for Foreign Aid Reform (C-FAR) group in Toronto. Fromm, who has been a leader in the Canadian racist scene for more than 25 years, is a teacher in the Peel Board of Education, just west of Toronto. He has not been allowed to teach high school-aged students for several years as a result of a Ministry of Education inquiry into his well-publicized racist activities, including speaking at a Heritage Front rally on the occasion of Hitler's birthday. Fromm's continuing role with C- FAR, including speaking engagements in the West, bears continued vigilance by anti-racist community groups. In British Columbia, the enigmatic neo-Nazi, Charles Scott, is still actively recruiting followers for racist groups in Western Canada. Scott was responsible for the recruitment of CSIS agent, Luke Desilets, into the U.S.-based Aryan Nations, and was named "Aryan of the Year" by that organization. However, Scott has reportedly left that organization to start his own group. He announced that he was moving to Ontario to get away from anti-racist protesters who were harassing him; but the move never took place. According to sources in B.C., Scott is traveling to small towns in the west to build a support network for his new organization. This is what is likely responsible for the increased reporting of anti- Semitic hate propaganda in the area. Since the decline of the Heritage Front started in 1993, it had been theorized that the Northern Hammerskins (NHS) would move to Toronto to replace them as a the predominant hate group. However, there has been no real indication that NHS has been active in Toronto. Nevertheless, they are quite involved in the hate scene in British Columbia, and several NHS members have gone to court in that province. The Current Climate - Highlights of Issues and Trends The decline of the neo-Nazi movement in Canada has not resulted in a drop in levels of reported anti-Semitism over the last two years. Instead, the sources of anti-Semitism have diversified and become more diffuse. 1995 was dominated by several issues which served to increase tensions and anxiety within the Jewish communities across the country, namely: the situation in Quebec, increased incidents of anti- Semitism in the media, the targeting of Jews by proselytizing missionary groups, and the proliferation of hate propaganda via the Internet. The Climate in Quebec In 1995, the number of reported anti-Semitic incidents of vandalism and harassment in Quebec were down. However, as the year drew to a close, the insecurity of the Jewish community was growing in the wake of a number of incidents related to Quebec's bitter and divisive sovereignty referendum debate. Early in the year, the communications advisor to the Premier, long-time separatist militant Pierre Bourgault, warned of a "dangerous situation" if an overwhelming vote by minority communities thwarted the nationalist aspirations of francophone Quebecers. Despite being censured and dismissed for his remarks, this warning was a worrisome undercurrent, coupled with concern about the possibility of a vote favourable to Quebec independence. So there was much anxiety in the Jewish community as the October 30th referendum date approached. The narrow margin of the NO victory set the stage for Bourgault's prediction to come true. Even though there was no violence or overt anti-Semitism to speak of, this remained a very tense time for Quebec's Jewish community, compounded by a series of events that followed the very close NO vote. On the night of the referendum, instead of initiating a period of healing, Quebec Premier, Jacques Parizeau, spoke of "us" and "them" and pointedly blamed "money and the ethnic vote" for the narrow loss by the sovereignists. In the highly emotionally charged atmosphere, some have suggested that the Premier's actions bordered on incitement to hatred. Later that same evening, Quebec's Deputy Premier, Bernard Landry, verbally abused a hotel clerk who was of ethnic background, ranting that immigrants were allowed into this country only to turn around and vote NO. A few days later, Pierre Bourgault reappeared, calling the Jewish, Greek and Italian communities racist for their block vote against Quebec sovereignty. Racists outside of Quebec immediately picked up on Parizeau's theme too. The next evening there was a message from Western Canada on the internet discussion group alt.revisionism which promoted hatred against Jews. The title was "Quebec Leader Blames Jews". There was also a message on the Heritage Front hotline blaming immigrants for the unity problems in Quebec. The uncertainty about Quebec's future, and assumption that another referendum is on the horizon, together with these intolerant statements and actions by prominent political leaders in Quebec, has created a gloomy and almost frightening outlook for the Jewish community. Terms like racism, intolerance and xenophobia are being bandied about recklessly. There is increased talk of another exodus from Quebec, similar to the 1970's. The recent news that a convicted Front de Liberation du Quebec (FLQ) terrorist from the 1960's has founded a new movement to aggressively push for Quebec sovereignty only serves to intensify the dread. However, there have been a few good signs as well, which do provide some measure of hope to many Jewish Quebecers. Several franco phone commentators have denounced most of the incidents described above. And towards the end of the year, when a Quebec Superior Court judge made an inappropriate Holocaust analogy that was perceived as minimizing the suffering of Jews in concentration camps, he was quickly and roundly censured and a disciplinary hearing was convened. In order to quell the fears of anti-Semitism and intolerance and to 'lower the temperature', it is hoped that a much more accepting and open vision of Quebec society will be projected by the new Premier through substantive debate within the Quebec nationalist movement to address these very sensitive issues head on. Anti-Semitism in the Media In Ontario, a major controversy of the year surrounded a commentary made by radio host Brian Henderson of CHUM. In his broadcast, Henderson remarked that Jewish mothers were pushing their children into the legal profession, and that lawyers were bilking the legal aid system. While his piece was meant as a comedic look at the legal aid program, his humour missed the mark and offended Jews across Metro Toronto. The following week, Dick Smyth, a host on CFTR radio, openly supported Henderson's broadcast - this was somewhat ironic, as CHUM, and Henderson himself, had disavowed his original commentary. Nevertheless, the two broadcasts brought issues of anti- Semitism to the forefront in the Toronto media. The League also received several complaints from university students because of distasteful features in the campus press that fueled the flames of anti-Semitism. It is regrettable that overzealous editors, usually in a poor attempt at humour, insist on invoking arguments of freedom of the press, and the license of satirists, when these are usually arguments in defense of poor taste and offensive material. Documentaries Highlight Hate On 28 February 1995, CTV aired the show "Hearts of Hate", a documentary on the inner workings of the Heritage Front. While the film was made with the intention of exposing the hate and violence of the group's leaders, some accused the film of serving as a recruitment tool for the racist right. The film maker's decision not to provide a countervailing voice to the speeches of Wolfgang Droege and George Burdi, particularly scapegoating minorities and immigrants on the steps of the parliament buildings, made the neo-Nazis seem more important and credible than they actually are. In the week following the airing of "Hearts of Hate", there were seven major incidents of vandalism directed at synagogues and Jewish schools across Canada. Although opinion is still sharply divided on the merits of the programme, there appears to be a direct correlation between the showing of "Hearts of Hate" and a spate of anti-Semitic violence in Canada. As the programme is rebroadcast around the world and youngsters are exposed to it in their living rooms without guidance, there is considerable anxiety regarding possible reactions to the show. A Teacher's Guide has since been created, as the film has proved to be a useful teaching tool when used by skilled educators in the right context. Indeed, the League uses the film frequently in workshops and presentations to raise awareness of the dangers of hate group recruitment and the nature and extent of their activities, but balanced with practical strategies to counter their hate propaganda with the facts about minority groups, immigration, employment equity, and the Holocaust. Other recent documentaries include "Profession Neo-Nazi", "Hate and Hate Crimes", "Crimes of Hate", and "The Faces of Hate". All of these films should be used with appropriate preparation by educators in order that they do not have exactly the opposite effect that was intended by the producers. Missionaries Target Canada's Jews In 1995, missionary groups continued their proselytizing of Jews in Canada. While these recruitment efforts are NOT counted for the statistical sections of the Audit, heir increased activities are of great concern to the League. While we recognize the rights of all Canadians to practice their faiths, missionary groups are infringing on the rights of others to feel comfortable in their observances of their religious traditions. Jews for Jesus, a group primarily funded by Christian missionary groups, has been active in recruiting Jews to join their ranks. Other groups, including the Toronto Jewish Mission, have also been targeting Jews to join their congregations. Russian immigrants and university students are often selected by these organizations, who ask their members to participate in traditional Jewish rituals laden with Christian symbolism. While most Jews would never consider joining a Christian sect, these Hebrew Christian groups continue to try to convince Jews that the two faiths are not incompatible, and that Jews can be Christians and still remain true to their original faith. The Jewish community must remain vigilant in counteracting the efforts of missionaries who prey on Jews. North of Toronto, in Newmarket and Richmond Hill, a group called the Vineyard Ministries tried to recruit in areas with heavy Jewish populations. They put on a Christian missionary play, entitled "Toymaker and Son" in a public park, and tried to get permits to perform the show in several other venues, all of which were near synagogues and other Jewish institutions in so-called Jewish neighbourhoods. The show was advertised with flyers which made no mention of the nature of the play; furthermore, it was targeted at children. The Vineyard also was allowed to present its play in a public elementary school with a large Jewish population. The principal of the school did not screen the script before the performance, and several parents complained to the school board and to the League. There was a mail campaign targeting the Jewish Community in Ottawa as well. In Ottawa, and also in Toronto a program during Holocaust Education Week was being sponsored behind the scene by the Grail Foundation, an organization dedicated to bringing the world "the Saving Revelation from the same origin as the true Message of Christ". The purpose of the program, a lecture by Micah Rubenstein, was not Holocaust education, but to introduce "In the Light of Truth: the Grail Message" written by German citizen Oskar Ernst Bernhardt under the name of Abd-ru-shin. While the programs did not take place, the appearances during Holocaust Education Week appeared to be a deliberate attempt to have the program endorsed by the unsuspecting Holocaust Education Committee of the Jewish Federation and then use the endorsement in later promotional material. The League played a role in alerting co-ordinators to the role of the Grail Foundation behind these scheduled programs. It is critical for Jews in Canada to be vigilant, and to counteract the missionary efforts directed at the Jewish community. While it is imperative that all Canadians be allowed to practice their religions, it is also important for members of minority faiths to feel that their rights are not being infringed by governments, organizations, or individuals. The Internet: The Battle (Flame War?) Heats Up Last year, the Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents reported that neo-Nazis were gaining access to the Internet, and were relying on computers to transmit their hatred. This trend has continued at accelerated rates as hate groups employ Usenet and e-mail to spread their hatred. As well, the Worldwide Web (WWW) is being used to allow Nazi groups and supporters around the world to make their materials available in Canada. While some strides are being attempted in Europe, the legal challenges posed by the Net regarding Canadian law are well-documented (see "Hate on the Internet" below). The Internet allows material prohibited in Canada from entering this country without interruption or legal challenge. But even as community groups, legislators, lawyers, and government agencies seek to find new ways to fight hate in cyberspace, it is imperative also to seek out and vigorously implement non-legislative solutions to the problem. Neo-Nazis such as Ernst Zundel , who are based in Canada are using websites, and there are dozens of such locations around the world which do not fall under the domain of Canadian law. In addition, neo-Nazis and Holocaust deniers such as Canadians Marc Lemire, George Burdi, and "Stormtrooper 88" are posting their hate on newsgroups. While many of these are devoted to racist views and topics, they are also actively posting on non-hate groups which cover such topics as music, art, and even sewing! Ken McVay, a resident of Vancouver Island, has been actively fighting hatemongers on the Net for several years. He is the Director of the Nizkor Project, which is compiling an on-line library designed to combat Holocaust deniers through extensive research and wide dissemination of the facts, including through links to several of the racist sites themselves. McVay and others are routinely on- line to refute the racist, anti-Semitic diatribes and "evidence" that the Holocaust never occurred. As well, the Nizkor website provides a resource for researchers who want to investigate the claims of hatemongers on the Net. McVay is among those who promote free speech on the Net, in the belief that it is easier and more effective to deal with Nazis when they are in the open and you can expose and refute their lies. But he also works closely with the League and other organizations on pro-active educational initiatives, as described below. Even as government and community agencies try to develop a solution to hatemongering on the Net which is both legally and technologically sound, the neo-Nazis are continuing to use the Internet to further their goals. It is imperative to work quickly to develop a comprehensive solution to cyberhate. THE LEAGUE RESPONDS TO ANTI-SEMITISM AND HATE In addition to responding on a case-by-case basis to reported incidents, it is by using the tools of education and research, legal/legislative interventions, and community action and coalition building that the League strives to fulfil its goals of combatting racism, bigotry and anti-Semitism, and to promote and achieve human rights for all Canadians. Education and Research Education is one of the major tools with which to counteract hate in high schools, colleges and universities. Through its Education and Training Centre, the League provides educational materials for students and teachers, conducts countless professional development workshops in school boards and on campuses, and provides training programs in the public and private sectors. In 1995, the Centre conducted anti-racist education workshops, courses on human rights and workplace harassment, programs on the criminal justice system, and public lectures and symposia on Holocaust education. In 1995 the Human Rights Youth League continued it promotion of student-driven activism in the struggle against racism, anti-Semitism, and hate group activities. Conceived by the League in 1993 as a forum for young people to develop legal, productive and non-violent strategies to counter discrimination, this year the Youth League held a very successful Anti-Racist Benefit Rock Concert, and participated actively in school forums. Towards the end of 1995, the League began a research study for the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto on the "Nature and Extent of Racism and Hate Activity in Metro Toronto". Building on the League's early study of "Victim Impact of Racially Motivated Crime", conducted for the Commission on Systemic Racism in the Justice System whose final report was released this year, the new study is correlating demographic data with incidents of hate and bias crime, utilizing a 1-800 number for direct reporting of incidents, and conducting extensive focus group discussions and interviews to determine a more effective model of coordinated action, data collection , service delivery and victim protection in this area. The League's databases on hate crimes, hate mongers, hate groups and reported incidents were refined in 1995. A Task Force has also been convened to monitor hate mongering on the Internet and to propose educational curriculum and policy development and implementation to regulate in some way the transmission of hateful messages. The League is working closely with the Nizkor Project, the Urban Alliance on Race Relations, the Anti-Racism Response Network, the Canadian Anti-racism Education and Research Society, among others, as information partners on the electronic highway to solve this challenging problem. The League and Nizkor have prepared a document entitled "Hate and the Internet: Selected Readings" to assist in this work. The creation of a B'nai Brith web page (http://www.canada.ibm.net/bnaibrith/) facilitates the cause. By conducting and disseminating in-depth primary research, the League provides law enforcement officials, the media, and the public at large with up-to-date accurate information on hate groups and strategies to counteract their influence. Legal/Legislative Initiatives In 1995 the League continued strong efforts to achieve passage of Bill C-41, which included amendments to the Criminal Code directing judges to take hate motivation into account during sentencing. The League was one of the few organizations selected to present its position verbally to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs, and during the debate in the House, League research and statistics were cited by several speakers to strengthen their positions on the question of Bill C-41. The League was also invited to make a presentation to the Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs in the final stages of the deliberations on Bill C-41. It was immediately following this presentation that the Senator who chaired the Committee was angrily approached by a number of hostile observers in the meeting room. One of them actually threatened the League representatives, shouting "it's because you Jews are always pushing things that what happened in Europe happened. If you keep this up, it could happen here." Feedback from the Committee indicated that these comments helped to convince members even more of the need for the inclusive revisions to the law. Bill C-41 passed by both the House and the Senate in 1995. Further to the astonishing revelations of white supremacist activity in the Armed Forces following the murder of a Somalian teenager by Canadian peacekeeping forces, as highlighted in last year's Audit, in 1995 the Commission of Inquiry into the Deployment of Canadian Forces in Somalia was begun. B'nai Brith was granted full standing in the Inquiry, as an organization with expertise in hate and bias crime, hate group activity, human rights violations, and the psychological factors of racists and victims. At the preliminary hearings in 1995, the League presented an overview of issues of harassment; conflict of interest in the chain of command when reporting through the ranks; assessment, selection and training; presence of racists in the Armed Forces; and the distinction between international humanitarian and human rights law. The League has since cross-examined several witnesses at the hearings and assisted in bringing out important points on the lack of investigation and relative indifference to racism and white supremacists in the First Airborne in conjunction with the deployment to Somalia. The League had intervenor status in the Malcolm Ross case, which was heard in the Supreme Court in the fall of 1995. The New Brunswick Human Rights Commission appealed the New Brunswick Court of Appeal's overturning of the tribunal decision to remove Ross from the classroom on the basis of the poisoned environment created by his publishing and disseminating Holocaust denial material and other anti- Semitic and hateful propaganda. We eagerly await the Supreme Court decision on Ross. The League was pleased to be granted leave to intervene in the pending Keegstra appeal, lest the Supreme Court re- open the issue of the constitutionality of the hate laws, which were upheld as constitutional in 1990. The Keegstra appeal will be heard early in 1996. Community Partnerships The League is committed to working with other organizations and agencies to promote multicultural understanding and anti- racism awareness and action. Through direct community action, coalition building and information sharing, the work of the League is expedited. It is essential that partnerships are formed and resources pooled, particularly during this time of declining resources. Such initiatives of the League as the Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue programs, such as the Muslim/Jewish Dialogue, the Black /Jewish Dialogue, and the Women's Interfaith Dialogue, are all ways to promote understanding, mediate differences, and to plan and implement constructive inter-community initiatives. The League also continues to be active on provincial and municipal race relations committees across the country, and to strengthen the partnerships with various police Hate Crimes Units, in the spirit of community policing, and to work to ensure safe cities. The League hosted the 20th annual Media Human Rights Awards in Winnipeg in 1995 to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This annual event is attended by members of the human rights and race relations community, as well as journalists. The awards recognize print and broadcast journalists for outstanding coverage of human rights issues. Media monitoring continues in order to protest against bias and to acknowledge balanced, responsible reporting. CONCLUSION Despite the setbacks suffered by the racist right, with many of their leaders in and out of court and serving jail sentences, hatemongers continued to be active in Canada in 1995. Holocaust denier, Ernst Zundel continued to distribute anti-Semitic hate propaganda at home and abroad, primarily over the Internet. Charles Scott, "Aryan of the Year" openly toured British Columbia trying to attract more people to his racist cause. And open gang and hate group activity was evident in smaller Ontario towns such as Pickering, Oakville, Brampton, and St. Catherines. Christian missionary groups seemed to be picking up their proselytizing and targeting of Jewish communities, in particular, usually not revealing their true identity or intention until an unsuspecting organization or institution has accepted their booking or their material for distribution. Still, the majority of incidents reported to the League for Human Rights were instigated by individuals with no apparent affiliation to organized groups. In 1995, as in recent years, Canadian Jews routinely received hate letters espousing everything from Holocaust denial, to conspiracy theories, to death threats, to advocating the destruction of the State of Israel. Two major concerns expressed by the League in 1994 have come to fruition. The first is the use of the Internet and other electronic communication networks for the distribution of hate propaganda. At present in Canada, no mechanism exists to implement existing legislation to regulated racist and anti- Semitic transmissions via computer. The League has launched a Task Force to address this and other creative ways to counter the ever- widening effects of hate on the internet, including active educational programming and materials. Secondly, in 1994 we predicted that it was only a matter of time before new organizations emerged, tapping into the pool of racist race, fuelled by the increasing backlash against immigration, multiculturalism and equity hiring programmes. Ignorance of policies, and anger at rising unemployment leave a fertile ground for scapegoating of minorities. Backlash against inclusive human rights policies leave victims feeling even more vulnerable. And vocal opposition to strengthening and broadening human rights legislation, albeit legitimate opposition in the parliamentary context, gave license for right-wing extremists to come out of the woodwork and perpetrate crimes of gay bashing and vandalism. Mean- spirited comments from political leaders in Ontario and Quebec about immigration, 'ethnics', 'special interest groups' , and stereotyping 'welfare cheats', create a climate of tension, scapegoating, and fear-mongering that is a breeding ground for more extremist activity. Even though some of the better-known racist groups seem to be weakened at this time, it would be naive to assume that large-scale organized hate will not resurface in Canada. As we move into 1996, we are encouraged by the legislation passed last year for sentencing enhancement for hate motivated crime, and by the proliferation of hate/bias crimes units in police forces across the country. But law making and law enforcement is only part of the battle against hatred in Canada. We have said before that it is essential to promote multicultural anti-racist education to heighten awareness of racism and to provide practical non-violent skills to counteract it. But important programs of this nature have been eroded and even eliminated completely through government cutbacks, weakening the strides that have been made in this area in the last few years. At the same time, incidents of violence and harassment have increased in schools and communities. More than ever, now is the time to strengthen community coalitions and launch informed and coordinated community action to ensure that all Canadians strive to refute the hatemongers and to build upon and promote the diversity that has made Canada the great country it is today. We cannot afford to allow all of the advances we have made in human rights and equality be eroded any further. APPENDIX Hotline Information Incident Reporting Form TABLES AND FIGURES Table 1 - Nature of Incidents by Year Figure 1 - Nature of Incidents by Year Figure 1 (a) - Number of Incidents - Three Year Average Figure I (b) - Incidents of Vandalism by Year Figure 1 (c) - Incidents of Harassment by Year Figure 2 - Geographic Distribution of Incidents Table 2 - Geographic Distribution of Incidents
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Nizkor
© The Nizkor Project, 1991-2012
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