Neo-Nazis Firebomb Calgary Activists
Posted by Geoff on February 29th, 2008
On Tuesday, February 12, two prominent members of the Communist Party of Canada and Anti Racist Action were the target of an attack by suspected Neo-Nazis in Calgary. Fightback unreservedly condemns these cowardly acts and calls for working class unity against such attacks.
February 29th, 2008 at 11:39 am
The left must not only condemn these attacks, but must organize to protect itself. When fascist thugs are organized to commit violence, communists, progressives, anti-racists and all left sympathizers have to be ready to take defensive action. When things get really tough politically and economically, governments usually set loose these dogs and let them run amok to strike terror into opponents.
They were obviously sending a warning. Duly noted.
March 2nd, 2008 at 9:02 am
I find your comment incredibly troubling and bordering on irresponsible. First, by saying “left sympathizers have to be ready to take defensive action”, do you mean violence? Did you leave that statement purposely open-ended so that some may interpret it as a call for physical acts?
As well, your other statement, “governments usually set loose these dogs and let them run amok” implies you think the government (Federal? Provincial? Municipal?) was somehow behind the firebombing. The suggestion is incredibly vague and silly at best, and shockingly stupid, proofless and far-reaching at worst. Whether or not you despise our government for its policies is immaterial: Everyone with a reasonable head on their shoulders knows our government does associate with neo-nazi elements. If you have irrefutable, rock-solid proof to the contrary, post it. Otherwise refrain from shouting fire in a crowded room in an effort to incite baseless protest.
The couple in question has a history of posting names, addresses, and photos of people they believe are neo-nazis on their anti-racism website. While I believe denouncing racism in and of itself is a noble cause, I can’t help but feel they indirectly invited this kind of criminal act against them by engaging in what argueably amounts to defamation. Not that this condones the firebombing in any way, shape or form - a criminal act is a criminal act, after all. However, they posted the personal information of these people based on what they found online, with little other proof of these people’s actions or associations. Furthermore, they did so knowing full well that they were courting the attention of certain people with violent tendencies.
If they were truly committed to eliminating racism and denouncing neo-nazis, they would report their suspicions to municipal police or the RCMP, who increasingly have special units set up to deal with these kind of hate groups. They could also choose to associate themselves with more credible, mainstream human rights coalitions, instead of engaging in risky vigilanteism.
March 2nd, 2008 at 9:12 am
Correction to the comment above, in the 2nd paragraph: “Everyone knows our government DOES NOT associate with neo-nazi elements.” That was a typing error on my part.