Click here to visit the mobile version of winnipegfreepress.com

Winnipeg Free Press > Local > Protest by alleged neo-Nazi group fizzles

Local

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Protest by alleged neo-Nazi group fizzles

By: Lindor Reynolds

24/06/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 6

Counter-protesters far outnumber those belonging to CAFE, a group linked to white supremacy, during rally Tuesday.

KEN.GIGLIOTTI@FREEPRESS.MB.CA Enlarge Image

Counter-protesters far outnumber those belonging to CAFE, a group linked to white supremacy, during rally Tuesday.

A planned protest by a Winnipeg group linked to white supremacy fizzled Tuesday morning when only three of the group's supporters showed up.

They were vastly outnumbered by media and counter-protesters who gathered in front of the Law Courts building.

Protesters Margaret Feakes and Gerry Neal stand outside Law Courts building.

Enlarge Image

Protesters Margaret Feakes and Gerry Neal stand outside Law Courts building. (KEN.GIGLIOTTI@FREEPRESS.MB.CA)

Related Items

  1. Articles

The rally was intended to show support for the mother of two children seized by CFS after the daughter was sent to school with Nazi symbols inked on her body.

Child and Family Services is seeking a permanent order of guardianship for the girl and her younger brother. The agency seized the children following the school episode and have argued in court the parents' racist views amount to emotional abuse and put the children at risk.

"Children are always better off with their parents," said protester Margaret Feakes. "It doesn't matter their religion or politics or whatever. If the children are clothed and well-fed they should stay. It's just another freedom being taken away."

The protest was organized by the Canadian Association for Free Expression (CAFE). Director Paul Fromm issued a statement calling the seizure of the children "the state kidnapping of the children of dissidents."

In a telephone interview, Fromm said his group has 50 supporters in Winnipeg. He denied they are white supremacists, insisting they simply support freedom of speech. However, Fromm has been called a neo-Nazi due to his links with far-right political parties and Holocaust denial.

CAFE has been vocal in what it sees as injustices against whites in the Canadian system, has argued the law does not robustly defend the free speech of whites and is too weighted towards minorities. The group is a signatory of the New Orleans Protocol, indicating a kinship with white nationalism.

Counter-protester Cynthia Wolfe-Nolin said she believes in freedom of speech but doesn't think the children should be kept in a home where they are taught to hate minorities.

The biological father of the girl, who has not seen the child in years, said Tuesday if he had known the white supremacists were outside the court building he "would have kicked their (expletive) asses."

Helmut-Harry Loewen, a sociology professor specializing in hate crimes, said CAFE was simply trying to use the mother as "a poster girl" for the far right.

A visibly upset Margaret Feakes left the Law Courts building after being denied entrance to the courtroom where the hearing is being held. Only immediate family and the media are allowed in.

"The world is watching this," she said. "I can't believe it's a closed hearing. I can't believe this is going on in Canada."

Two police officers on bicycles were on hand to quell any possible clashes but left shortly after the scheduled start time of the protest.

lindor.reynolds@freepress.mb.ca

 

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 24, 2009 A3

  • Rate this Rate This Star Icon
  • This article is currently rated an average of 5 out of 5 (1 votes).

    • We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high. If you thought it was well written, do the same. If it doesn’t meet your standards, mark it accordingly.

    You can also register and/or login to the site and join the conversation by leaving a comment.

    Rate it yourself by rolling over the stars and clicking when you reach your desired rating. We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high.

6 Commentscomment icon

@blank name,

If you want to oppose speech about hate, do it through debate, and not by decree of the state. If you don't defend another individuals rights, you lose your rights as well. If you don't you will get the government you deserve.

@KBT

I hope your children don't have any piercings on their bodies, because I consider that desecration. You are subjecting them to pain to receive those piercings.

CFS should come and take your children from you because of what you are teaching them. You are forcing your children to be conduits for your beliefs and values, and they don't have the capacity to understand that you are wrong, and you are endangering them by raising them. I know you are wrong in your beliefs, because I am right in my beliefs. The State should only support those that share my views, and should remove the freedoms of those that oppose them. Remember, my right to not be offended by your opinions overrides your right to freedom of expression and belief.

Dave, have you not even followed along?

The case is about the desecration of a child. A child without the capacity to understand the hate being scribbled across her body. A child who is then sent into public to promote hatred.

If your vision of free speech is allowing parents to use defenseless children to promote genocide, then yeah, damn right there should be limits.

Freedom of speech does not carry with it the right to force others to be conduits for any messages.

The way the article is presented with the headline and the photo of the counter protesters beneath, at first glance it makes it very much look like the counter protesters are the white supremacists. I wish the free press were more careful about such appearances.

Hey Dave, any speech about hate should be opposed.

Cynthia Wolfe-Nolin obviously does not believe in free speech. If she did, there would be no reason for the state to take these children away from their parents. Cynthia Wolfe-Nolin believes in limited Free Speech, Free Speech But, or Free Speech Light. Remember: The toughest thing about free speech is defending speech that you hate.

Well that settles that. What a joke 3 people. Not worth covering now.

The comment period for this story has ended.

letters

Make text: Larger | Smaller

Special coverage

Our Communities

Poll

North Dakota's ramping up for a flood battle. Are you concerned about what will happen north of the border?

View Results

View Related Story