Voiceonline.com: Is the RCMP doing enough to stop hate propaganda by scumbags?

IN FOCUS WITH RATTAN

#3. Is the RCMP doing enough to stop hate propaganda by scumbags?

What on earth are the Mounties doing about incidents of hate crime against Indo-Canadians and other minorities? The latest racist incident against Indo-Canadians, Jews and gays took place in Langley and the RCMP kept it a secret until someone who also received the hate material in their mailbox contacted the media last weekend. Why didn't the Langley RCMP inform the media so that other victims could come forward. WHY? Decent white Langley residents expressed their disgust at the flyers that denounce mixed race marriages, homosexuality and minorities. Langley RCMP told the local media that there had been some complaints about the hate flyers and claimed that this material had first been distributed throughout that city and was now being distributed in the township. Meanwhile, the Canadian Jewish Congress strongly condemned extremist literature that has been distributed in the Fraser Valley. It said it had spoken about the flyers with police, who say their content targets immigrants and immigration. They also say the flyers appear to originate from a Virginia-based white supremacist group. Police have not yet identified those responsible for distributing the material locally. "All non-Aboriginal Canadians are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, which makes this extreme anti-immigration material seem quite absurd," said MARK WEINTRAUB, Chair of Canadian Jewish Congress, Pacific Region. "The danger lies in the fact that this type of clearly mean-spirited attack exploits ignorance and pre-existing prejudice," he added. Weintraub noted that it is also distressing that the materials appear also to highlight a hate-based Internet site. He said the provincial Hate Crime Team will investigate to conclude whether the flyers promote hate and will determine charges under the Criminal Code accordingly. "I am proud that here in Canada we have established a culture of respect for diversity. We cannot permit those with ignorant minds and hard hearts to harm our fellow Canadians. CJC, Pacific Region, is confident that the police will identify the perpetrators in this case, and that they will be dealt with appropriately under the law," he said. Well, let's wait and see what the RCMP do in this case.

http://www.voiceonline.com/voice/051112/JUSTMINUTE.php

Langley Advance: Racism: Hateful mail distributed in Langley

Racism: Hateful mail distributed in Langley

Flyers filled with anti-immigrant messages have been found in Langley and throughout the Fraser Valley.

by Erin McKay

Racist hand-outs have ended up in Langley mailboxes, and while their message is offensive, the RCMP's Hate Crimes Unit is not too worried about them.

"We'd love to know who is doing it," said Sgt. Mark Graf, "but we are not spending a great amount of time or effort on them. There are other things that are higher priorities."

Over the past week or two, Langley RCMP received a handful of complaints from residents who found the flyers in with their mail.

The hand-outs did not get delivered with local newspapers.

Cpl. Diane Blain, spokesperson for the Langley RCMP, said such issues are not handled at a detachment level, but instead the information is collected and forwarded to E Division's Hate Crimes Unit.

The flyers have turned up in other communities, including Surrey and Mission, and while Blain said such racist attacks are "really unusual" in Langley, Graf noted that similar hand-outs circulate two or three times a year in the Lower Mainland.

"Nobody wants them in their mailbox," Graf said, but added that the two-man Hate Crimes Unit is responsible for all of the province, and puts a higher priority on dealing with more personal offences.

He added that it is not known who is responsible for distributing the flyers locally, and advised those who find a flyer to contact their local police detachment.

The Canadian Jewish Congress has condemned the flyers, which target immigrants and appear to originate from a Virginia-based white supremacist group.

"All non-Aboriginal Canadians are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, which makes this extreme anti-immigration material seem quite absurd," said Mark Weintraub, Chair of Canadian Jewish Congress, Pacific Region.

"The danger lies in the fact that this type of clearly mean-spirited attack exploits ignorance and pre-existing prejudice," he added.

"I am proud that here in Canada we have established a culture of respect for diversity," Weintraub said. "We cannot permit those with ignorant minds and hard hearts to harm our fellow Canadians."

published on 11/11/2005

http://www.langleyadvance.com/issues05/112205/news/112205nn6.html

CJC News Release: CJC Condemns extremist literature

November 8, 2005 - CJC Condemns extremist literature

Vancouver - Canadian Jewish Congress strongly condemned extremist literature that has been distributed in the Fraser Valley.

CJC has spoken about the flyers with police, who say their content targets immigrants and immigration. They also say the flyers appear to originate from a Virginia-based white supremacist group. Police have not yet identified those responsible for distributing the material locally.

"All non-Aboriginal Canadians are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, which makes this extreme anti-immigration material seem quite absurd," said Mark Weintraub, Chair of Canadian Jewish Congress, Pacific Region. "The danger lies in the fact that this type of clearly mean-spirited attack exploits ignorance and pre-existing prejudice,” he added.

Weintraub noted that it is also distressing that the materials appear also to highlight a hate-based internet site. He said the provincial Hate Crime Team will investigate to conclude whether the flyers promote hate and will determine charges under the Criminal Code accordingly.

“I am proud that here in Canada we have established a culture of respect for diversity. We cannot permit those with ignorant minds and hard hearts to harm our fellow Canadians. CJC, Pacific Region, is confident that the police will identify the perpetrators in this case, and that they will be dealt with appropriately under the law,” he said.

-30-

Contact:
Pat Johnson
Acting Co-Director
Canadian Jewish Congress, Pacific Region
604-257-5101
patj@cjc.ca
www.cjc.ca

http://www.cjc.ca/template.php?action=news&story=756