White supremacists flee counter-protesters

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/3/2012 (1743 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

EDMONTON -- A white pride rally in Edmonton's downtown lasted only minutes when the demonstrators fled into a subway stairwell after they were greeted by more than 100 anti-racist counter-protesters.

Police then blocked subway platform entrances until the roughly two dozen white pride demonstrators, most of them masked, were able to leave on a train.

Police spokesman Scott Pattison said at one point as the racist group was nearing the site near Edmonton City Hall, both sides clashed briefly, but police separated them quickly.

"I believe there was some pushing and shoving but it was only momentary," Pattison said, noting there were no injuries or arrests.

As the groups neared City Hall, police kept the anti-racists from crossing the street and getting close to the white pride rally, but both sides shouted insults at each other until the white pride group left.

Anti-racist demonstrators ran from entrance to entrance of the subway in an effort to follow the rally, and expressed their frustration at police who were blocking the doors.

"I think it's a shame that our tax dollars are being used to coddle and protect racist hate groups in our city," said one anti-racist demonstrator with a megaphone.

"Shame on police for coddling extremists. They should be ashamed of themselves," he added.

A similar white pride group gathered Saturday afternoon for a rally at London City Hall, where it was also met by a large group of anti-racists. Police said in a news release that there was "an altercation" between the two groups but that both sides dispersed when police arrived.

London police say there was minor damage to a parking arm, but there were no further incidents.

-- The Canadian Press