Anti-racists clash with Aryan Guard
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Posted by by Jamie Komarnicki on 10:14:13 2008/03/22
Anti-racists clash with Aryan Guard
Jamie Komarnicki
Canwest News Service
Friday, March 21, 2008
A group of about 150 people gathered to demonstrate against the Aryan Guard in front of Calgary City Hall on Good Friday. Carolyn Pogue (left) and Phyllis Gillanders of Women in Black peace group were there to get their message out.
CREDIT: Lorraine Hjalte/Calgary Herald
A group of about 150 people gathered to demonstrate against the Aryan Guard in front of Calgary City Hall on Good Friday. Carolyn Pogue (left) and Phyllis Gillanders of Women in Black peace group were there to get their message out.
CALGARY - White supremacists and anti-racist protesters clashed in a head-on screaming match that wound its way through downtown Calgary on Friday.
A strong police presence stayed close on the heels of the protesters, breaking up several angry confrontations and leading at least two people away in handcuffs.
It's the latest in a string of events that some activists fear signals a rising tide of racism in Calgary.
"It's sad, this is a sad sight, an unsettling sight," said anti-racism advocate Bonnie Collins as a group of demonstrators stood waving white supremacist flags on the steps of the Calgary municipal building.
"We'll always meet them head-on every time. I'm scared, but I'm not going to stand down, ever."
Friday's incident began in front of a seniors' home as both sides shouted slogans at each other. A line of police officers formed a wall between the groups.
Waving white pride worldwide flags, about 30 members of the neo-Nazi group, which calls itself the Aryan Guard, began marching.
Nearly 150 anti-racist protesters dogged them at every step. The march paused several times as police forcibly held the two groups apart.
Stunned tourists and downtown shoppers watched open-mouthed as the shouting crowd marched down the popular Stephen Avenue.
"I think it's horrible," said Cindy Fredricks, wiping away tears after she found herself in the thick of the protesters while out for a walk.
"You realize what this is about, it's pretty scary. Everybody should feel safe here," she said.
The white supremacists refused interview requests.
"We're just proud to be white, that's all. Why can't we be proud to be white?" said one protester, who refused to give his name.
Earlier in the day, the anti-racist protesters gathered at the municipal building in a pre-emptive counter-protest.
Several covered their faces in masks, saying they were fearful to make their identities known to the Aryan Guard members.
"We have to stand together and fight their horrible ideas and ideology," said Collins.
"The message is, there's strength in numbers," said one of the rally's organizers, Jason Devine. "We don't have to be afraid of people that march around with swastikas."
"We're here to oppose it."
jkomarnicki@theherald.canwest.com
© Calgary Herald 2008
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