Updated: March 18, 2021, 11:10 AM
Vancouver, B.C.
Amidst the increasing Anti-Asian hate in the U.S. following the killing of eight people in Atlanta, Georgia, Canada faces the same threats of white nationalism and supremacy
Opinion
Mildred German
Unceded Territories – Eight people were killed and a 21-year old suspect was apprehended in connection to the killing spree in three separate massage parlours in Atlanta yesterday. Nine people were shot, eight dead, seven of the dead were women, and six of these dead women were Asian women.
Such numbers of casualties are the disturbing results of the latest and most violent act of anti-Asian crimes in the U.S. In Canada, the increasing violence and hate crimes brought by white nationalism and supremacy, also are taking a toll.
Earlier this month, a white man who was seen driving at Clark and East Hastings St. in East Vancouver, amidst a peaceful protest, flashed a nazi salute at the indigenous land and water defenders. Videos and photography of the man flashing Nazi-salutes were obtained during the blockade in East Vancouver when Indigenous youth group, Braided Roots, set-up a peaceful blockade in response to the sentencing of four land defenders previously charged in 2020.
During this blockade in East Vancouver, another new batch of peaceful land and water defenders were arrested. Four of them, one Black, an Ethiopian youth, a lady in a wheelchair, and a Philippine-born protestor, 21-year old Laurel Fermina, were violently arrested on March 3, and were unjustly jailed.
Pinay among those arrested at TMX protest
The man who was caught flashing the Nazi salute has been identified as a local contractor with a company tied to the Trans Mountain pipeline project. Although the man’s image got published and can be found online, his identity has not been released. He was reportedly seen driving through the intersection of Clark and Hastings, and was uttering profanities, flashing his middle finger out of the window of his vehicle, and making gestures “Sieg Heil”, the salute used in Nazi rallies.
Man who flashed Nazi salute at Indigenous protestors ‘truly sorry’
In February, Canada designated the white nationalist and white supremacist group, Proud Boys, as a terrorist group in Canada. According to this report, the latest labeling of the group by the Government of Canada has “reasonable grounds” as Proud Boys has knowingly participated and facilitated terrorist activities, particularly in the deadly riot in the U.S. Capitol in January.
“Violent acts of terrorism have no place in Canadian society or abroad.”, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Bill Blair, stated via the Public Safety Canada website.
“The Government of Canada will continue to take appropriate actions to counter terrorist threats to Canada, its citizens and its interests around the world.”, he added. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/news/2021/02/government-of-canada-lists-13-n ew-groups-as-terrorist-entities-and-completes-review-of-seven-others.html
Although white nationalists and white supremacist groups like Proud Boys, has been designated a terrorist organization, Nazi and derogatory symbols and behaviour against Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour, have became more prevalent in Canada. Anti-Asian racism and attacks have disturbingly increased amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
In July 2020, a Filipino woman, Patricia Medrano, of Edmonton, Alberta was harassed by a Nazi-saluting racist white man named Riley Dodd. Dodd has also threatened beheading Medrano after she turned him down, the Resonate Team reports.
‘You’re bringing Coronavirus into Canada!’: Filipino woman harassed by Nazi-saluting racist
This video clip of a man harassing a Filipina was taken by the victim herself. (Photo: Medrano, Facebook)“I’ll kill you, I’ll decapitate you, Filipino little bitch.”, shared Medrano, who took a video clip of the threat and harassment by Dodd. “At that moment, I was scared for my safety,” Medrano said of the incident. “I don’t want it to happen to anyone. No one deserves it, it’s really traumatizing.”