Man, 19, charged in antisemitic graffiti incidents

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A 19-year-old Winnipeg man is accused of defacing walls and fences with antisemitic graffiti in an alleged spree that police say did not meet the Criminal Code’s criteria for hate crimes.

Insp. Jennifer McKinnon said police received a high number of reports of swastikas or acronyms on outdoor surfaces in Charleswood between Sept. 28 and Dec. 31.

“I want to emphasize the Winnipeg Police Service takes all hate-motivated incidents very seriously, and considers the safety and security of our community to be our highest priority,” she told reporters Tuesday.

“We’re committed to working with our community partners, and remain steadfast in denouncing those that participate in such hateful acts. Hate-motivated crimes have no place in our community.”

Swastikas and the initials “M.K.Y.” were spray-painted onto Westdale Community Centre and nearby buildings in the final days of Hanukkah.

“M.K.Y.” is an international neo-Nazi group that promotes violence, the Canadian Anti-Hate Network’s website said. A U.S. indictment against an alleged leader in 2024 said the group promoted violence against racial minorities and the Jewish community.

Premier Wab Kinew previously condemned the graffiti in Charleswood, calling it an “act of hatred.”

City police arrested a suspect during a raid, involving the major crimes unit and tactical support team, in Charleswood’s Westdale neighbourhood Sunday.

Nevin Thunder Young is charged with 26 counts of mischief under $5,000. He was held in custody.

Hate crimes investigators, who work within major crimes, continue to investigate.

McKinnon said evidence that was seized during the raid is being examined. Police did not disclose what was seized.

Surveillance video helped identify a suspect, said McKinnon, who thanked residents for reporting incidents or providing information to investigators.

Most, if not all, of the graffiti has been removed or covered.

Gustavo Zentner, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs’ vice-president of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, was grateful for the arrest. The organization helped the WPS in its investigation.

Police confirmed they will explore whether the suspect is linked to other offences, Zentner said.

He said the graffiti was an attempt to intimidate Jews.

“(Hate) creates a divide in society, which we cannot afford nor tolerate as Canadians,” Zentner said.

“(Hate) creates a divide in society, which we cannot afford nor tolerate as Canadians.”–Gustavo Zentner

The WPS said the graffiti did not meet specific criteria in the Criminal Code related to hate crimes. Charges of mischief under $5,000 were deemed “most appropriate,” following consultation with the Crown, McKinnon said.

“There was no intent to target a specific individual or location,” she said, while declining to reveal the suspected motive.

Federal legislation defines a hate crime as one “motivated by bias, prejudice or hate based on the race, nationality, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability or sexual orientation of the victim.”

Three Criminal Code offences specifically pertain to hate under a hate propaganda section, said Kenneth Grad, an assistant professor in the University of Manitoba faculty of law.

The offences are advocating genocide, public incitement of hatred and willful promotion of hatred. A subsection says a person willfully promotes antisemitism by condoning, denying or downplaying the Holocaust.

A separate section includes the offence of mischief against religious property motivated by hate, Grad noted.

Mischief under $5,000 “is not one of the offences in the Criminal Code that, essentially, the government has characterized as a hate crime offence,” he said.

Hate can be applied as an aggravating factor at sentencing.

“That could turn any crime into a hate crime or a hate-motivated offence,” Grad said.

If the Charleswood incidents lead to a conviction, “the aggravating factors of this investigation will be provided and considered at sentencing,” McKinnon said.

Police asked anyone with information about the Charleswood incidents to call 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477 (TIPS).

The start of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023 led to a surge in reports of antisemitic and Islamophobic graffiti or incidents.

“I do believe it’s settled down, except for this incident,” McKinnon said. “This incident is attributed to one individual. I need to be clear, though. It’s unacceptable.

“When we see this type of graffiti, it’s incredibly concerning. It’s tough because the criteria of the Criminal Code really ties our hands.”–Insp. Jennifer McKinnon

“When we see this type of graffiti, it’s incredibly concerning. It’s tough because the criteria of the Criminal Code really ties our hands, so that’s where the hate motivation piece comes into this.”

Jewish Winnipeg resident Avrom Charach has removed more than 100 graffiti messages or symbols throughout the city, including some in Charleswood, since the conflict began.

He removed a swastika from the wall of the Ashkenazi Synagogue in the North End. Elsewhere, some messages targeted other minority groups.

“I’m very disappointed when I see hateful graffiti,” he said. “We should fight against hate, no matter who it is against.”

Charach said federal politicians should consider changes to the Criminal Code as it relates to hate crimes.

“I would love to see this become a hate crime,” he said of graffiti like that sprayed in public in Charleswood. “If the Criminal Code doesn’t allow for it, it doesn’t allow for it, but it definitely is pure hate.”

Zentner said his organization is working with lawyers “to ensure the government has impactful policies and laws in place” to protect communities.

Zentner and Charach said more education and public awareness is needed to deter hate.

The Manitoba government announced mandatory Holocaust education before the start of the 2024-25 school year.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca