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Rights violated: accused racist

Father challenges seizure of children by authorities

By: Mike McIntyre

14/05/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 20

WINNIPEG – A Winnipeg father accused of teaching his children racist views has filed a constitutional challenge and claims his rights to freedom of expression and religion have been violated.

The father and his wife, who can't be named to protect the identity of their children, are set for a legal showdown with Child and Family Services over custody of their seized kids. A weeklong trial is slated to begin May 25, and the father is seeking an automatic ruling in their favour by citing numerous alleged violations under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

CFS seized the children last spring based on concerns about their emotional well-being after the girl showed up at her elementary school with hate propaganda inked on her body. Further investigation revealed the kids were being raised in what agency officials described as a "white supremacist" environment. The investigators also raised child protection concerns not related to the parents' beliefs.

The parents -- who are legally married but currently living apart from each other -- have denied any wrongdoing and the father recently filed an affidavit supporting his position.

"(The mother) and I were excellent parents to our biological child (the boy) and to (the girl), both before and after the children were apprehended. I believe that there is no legal basis for the children having been apprehended in the first place," the father wrote.

"State removal of a child from parental custody is a serious interference with the psychological integrity of the parent and infringes every parent's right to a fair hearing pursuant... to the charter," the man's lawyer wrote.

The nature of the parents' belief is expected to play a role both in the charter challenge and in the child protection trial.

In an interview with the Free Press last summer, the mother described herself as "white nationalist... but not a neo-Nazi skinhead." She admitted to postings made on two websites, which include a picture of the couple standing in front of a Nazi flag, with the man raising his arm in salute. She said postings attributed to her husband under a particular pseudonym were made by him. She claimed to have no memory of ones attributed to her under another pseudonym in which she speaks of posting "White Pride" posters, uses racial slurs to describe black people and makes derogatory comments about aboriginals.

"(The children) goose-step all the time. It really is adorable, it's more fun when we're in the mall and I do it, too," she wrote. Her husband claims he has "dedicated my entire life to being a skinhead" and vows to never change.

The father describes the swastika as "an ancient Nordic symbol for peace, life and new beginnings."

This case has generated national and international publicity because of the unique issues involved. The court hearing is expected to address the extent to which the beliefs as expressed by the parents are legally protected and whether educating their children in these beliefs entitled CFS to apprehend the children.

If the father is successful in establishing that his charter rights have been violated, this may prevent the court from hearing evidence about other child protection concerns CFS discovered during their investigation that are unrelated to the parents' racist beliefs.

CFS recently filed a motion to have the media banned from covering the upcoming trial, fearing further coverage of the case will be harmful to the children. Several media outlets, including the Free Press, objected to the proposed ban. A family court judge dismissed the CFS application earlier this week.

www.mikeoncrime.com

 

 

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 14, 2009 A3

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20 Commentscomment icon

Freedom of speech helps maintain a civilized culture; without it hatred and misinformation are driven underground, only to erupt when one least expects it. Canada already has enough laws which protect it's citizens from harm- we definitely do not need the state meddling in our homes.

We, and especially our children are supposed to be protected by the law, which fortunately includes hate crimes. It is illegal to promote racism as it is a hate crime. Sending your children out in the world with this message inked onto them is disgusting, and I don´t understand how there hasn´t been any charges laid against the parents. I completely stand behind the CFS decision, especially since the racism part was only part of the reason. It breaks my heart to think about children being brought up with hatred.

i believe most of what karen has said. she teaches her children to be open minded and smart. basically lets them decide what is right for them but still using her authority as a parent. this is how i was raised. the only thing i disagree with is letting these parents teach their kids this stuff. I believe you should teach your children to be open-minded and accepting of all people regardless of disabilty, race, religion etc.
and not to teach hateful abusive things.

as for wpgreader1023 response, i believe you are well within parenting grounds for teaching your children that, as long as you do not teach them to hurt and kill animals just because they are disliked. now don't get me wrong their are exceptions (hunting or self defense against a dog attacking etc.) but hurting and abuse is wrong. if these parents were telling the children to hate black people for such and such a reason but to not hurt or abuse them that would b fine with me. im not for hating anyone but there is no visible abuse going on.

i have an agnostic belief in religion. and i have several good friends who believe that i will go to hell for this. i do not change my views toward them for it. this is how they were raised. but i am not being abused nor ignored by them for this. teaching religion is the same way if they teach you to hate specific categories of people. i will not be teaching my children religion, but if they wnt to go to church, i wont stop them nor will i be mad or judging or stop talking to them. i will love them regardless

"How many of you have followed to the letter your parents belief system?"

Teaching your child Safety, Respect for themselves and others, Responsibility/Consequences for actions is what most Responsible Parents believe in teaching thier children.

Yes, a lot of us have not followed our Parents belief system to the letter.

Responsible Parenting does NOT include teaching children to be Racist! Again, I hope CFS removes these kids permanently from these so-called "Parents"!!!

"and as the father mentioned, they were "excellent parents"."

Oh, please! What parent is going to say, yeah we weren't the best of parents? CFS found other concerns remember? Like the girl had missed 39 days of school because her parents slept in. The actions of excellent parents I am sure.

You are only hearing the parents' side of the story. CFS's will come out in court and now that their request to not have media present has been turned down, we will all hear it.

I teach my children not to drive or walk alone in the North end of the city unless they absolutely must. Does that make me a bad mom? No, it makes me a mom who cares about her children's safety. I tell them about birth control and safe sex, that they will not go to hell if they have premarital sex. I teach them about good and bad relationships, the dangers of meeting online 'buddies' they don't know about. About parties at places they never been to and
not to trust anyone other than family. Oh I'm terrible! These parents never starved or beat the kids in any way. They just taught them what they thought was best. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. What makes you people out there judge and jury? The kids will grow up with a mind of their own and choose their own paths. How many of you have followed to the letter your parents belief system?

These parents are ugly racists and I think it's abhorrent how they're raising their children, but I have similar opinions about religious zealots who indoctrinate their kids, and right-wing, gun-crazy hunters who take their 6-year-olds out to shoot animals. We can't take peoples' kids away just because we don't agree with their views or we think they're raising their children to have similarly ugly views. It's unconstitutional.

While I think our Court System is pathetic with it's math of double credit for time served, and 2/3rds of the sentance being "real", minus the double time, of course! But I hope that they can determine for us where these children are best served to be living, weather it's loving foster care, or with their loving, albeit stupid, parents.

It is true that there are still many racist and intolerant people, but most have enough sense not to shout it out, at least in Winnipeg. It is rare to see such blatant ignorance in an adult...where is the sanity in drawing a common symbol of racist hatred on a child? That alone should condemn the parents. And that can't be the only example of the poor judgement of these parents. And most organized religions of today do not preach that unbelievers will burn in hell. They teach more cooperation and tolerance of others...both ideals that are missing from white supremists. I don't see how they can be compared. I also question why these two adults are living in Canada, a melting pot of cultures.

are you people not being intolerant of these parents? Did your parents not teach you to allow other their own beliefs? Look at what you write as it's very hypocritical.

I don't agree with what the parents were teaching nor would I teach my own children the same, but they have the right to their own beliefs, just like you're free to bring your kids up as you want to

Canada is a place where there are many different types of people, yet your guys are ostracizing them for not believing what you do! What if CFS were to take your kids away for teaching christian values or anything similar you would be outraged too!

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