IS YOUR CHILD A TARGET?

Guidelines for Parents and Teachers on the Dangers of
Hate Group Recruitment in Canada

For printable version of this flyer click here

HATE GROUPS IN CANADA TODAY

Hate groups promoting neo-Nazi/White Supremacist ideology operate through a network of inter-related, pseudo-religious and right-wing political organizations. They are composed of bigots and racists who play on people’s doubts and fears, blaming all of the past and present problems of society on identifiable minority groups. These groups are especially eager to recruit young people.

• Hundreds of hate groups operate in North America, including Aryan Nations, Ku Klux Klan, National Alliance, Blood and Honour, National Vanguard and the largely defunct World Church of the Creator.  These groups influence their Canadian counterparts.

• In Canada, activity has mainly centered on groups such as the Northern Alliance, Heritage Front, London-area Tri-City Skinheads, Canadian Heritage Alliance, Freedomsite.org, Western Canada For Us, Stormfront Canada, Canadian Association for Free Expression (CAFÉ) and the now defunct Canadian Ethnic Cleansing Team. These groups often experience periods of decline followed by bouts of resurgence.

• Current activities include dissemination of hate messages via the internet, distribution of hate pamphlets, vandalism against religious property, and racist rock concerts and album sales. Doom-style video games such as Ethnic Cleansing are the newest recruitment tool used by hate groups.

• White Supremacist groups have attempted to co-opt the “skinhead” movement. While not all skinheads are racist, many in Canada are drawn towards a culture of racism and violence.

IS YOUR CHILD A TARGET?      YES!

Hate groups concentrate their recruiting efforts primarily in high schools and to some extent on campus. Lonely, socially isolated youth seeking a sense of identity and belonging are the most attractive targets for racists and their most useful tools once recruited. Emotionally vulnerable or angry young people are easily indoctrinated by hatemongers and are often convinced to engage in violence and commit criminal acts to prove themselves.

HOW HATE GROUPS RECRUIT

Hatemongers often represent their group as a social club, or a legitimate nationalist political party demanding “Equal Rights for Whites”. Youth are drawn in by rituals and ceremony, befriended and made to feel important. They are brainwashed through rallies, training camps and hate propaganda, until they give up their independent identity and become hate mongers themselves.

While hate groups prey on marginalized youngsters, these groups also target educated youth. As well as distributing flyers that promote meetings and rock concerts, a new generation of internet savvy youth can be easily reached through messaging via e-mail and private chat rooms. A web presence has enhanced the visibility and credibility of hate sites which often mask their true nature; some even have areas designed to attract young children.

RACIST SYMBOLS

Hate groups often use known Nazi and KKK symbols, but have also co-opted Celtic or pagan symbols to use as White Power emblems.

EARLY WARNING SIGNS

At a time when gang violence and youth involvement in criminal activity is on the rise, any significant change in behaviour or appearance of your teenager should be monitored. Some telltale signs that may indicate involvement in hate groups include:

• Sudden lack of interest in school
• Secretive behaviour
• Violence or overt hostility to parents and family
• Playing racist rock music of groups such as Skrewdriver
• Stereotyping and scapegoating of ethnic and religious minorities, using racial and religious slurs
• Wearing or displaying Nazi symbols such as swastikas, the Iron Cross and/or military clothing and paraphernalia
• Becoming a skinhead or acquiring skinhead friends
• Writing or tattooing racist symbols, slogans or code words
• Preoccupation with military themes, clothing and weapons
• Possession of hate propaganda, including Holocaust denial, and videos, music, books and pamphlets produced by hate groups.

RACIST CODE WORDS AND NUMBERS

Racist symbols are used as graffiti to deface synagogues, schools and public buildings, or as tattoos or jewelry. This ‘visual vocabulary’ gives hatemongers a sense of power and identity and is used to intimidate and harass minorities.

14 – refers to the 14-word slogan “We must secure the existence of our   race and a future for white children”.

RACIST BANDS AND ROCK CONCERTS

The promotion of bigotry and violence is a core feature of racist rock music used to recruit impressionable youth. Through companies such as US-based Resistance Records, messages of hate attract a growing audience worldwide. “Hatecore” music can be downloaded for free, but sales from White Power labels are substantial, directly funding white supremacist movements.

Groups such as Skrewdriver, White Power Skinhead–Aryan, Patriotic Front, Kremator, Subsidium, Trouble Makers, White Warriors and Battlefront reach Canadian youth over the Internet as well as through concerts and album sales.

An example of lyrics used by the Canadian RaHoWa rock band:

“Kill all the niggers and you gas the Jews, kill a Gipsy and a coloured too. You just killed a kike….Don’t it feel right, goodness gracious, darn right…”              Third Reich – RaHoWa

To learn more about racist rock music, go to www.turnitdown.com

PROTECT YOUR CHILD FROM HATE

Hate groups borrow the techniques of religious cults to retain members. Once involved, the youth are encouraged to isolate themselves from their former lives - parents, family, friends - and to commit full-time to the movement. Hate groups foster an atmosphere of ‘violence, abuse and intimidation,’ often forcing new recruits to commit criminal and violent acts. The racists learn so much about the recruit’s life, that it is next to impossible to withdraw. Those who try to drop out often find themselves the target of threats and violence.

Young recruits will need specialized help if they are to break out of the cycle of hatred and violence. That is why it is so crucial for parent and teachers to be aware of the warning signals and to get help immediately to reclaim these youngsters.

WHAT RACIST WEBSITES SAY

Our concern is how they are employing their vast power and their unchallenged control…White nations are being manipulated and controlled by the Jews.           BC White Pride

“…the only viable long-range solution for you is to get rid of all the Blacks and other non-Whites in your country.  Do whatever you must do – force them out, sterilize them, kill them ...”                                         Tri-City Skins website

It is now time to take back our streets…There are many targets on Canadian soil ... any Jew/Arab temple, building, house, and even cars.  We need to deport all Jews, Muslims, Arabs ...”                        Canadian Ethnic Cleansing Team website

WHAT THE LAW SAYS

Hate groups often cite free speech in defence of their activities, but hate propaganda is not an issue of free speech. It is the promotion of hatred against an identifiable minority group and it is against the law in Canada. The Criminal Code of Canada prohibits the distribution of hate propaganda and the promotion of hatred, incitement to violence or advocating genocide.

HOW TO RESPOND

Is Your Child a Target?  2nd edition © 2006 League for Human Rights

This publication is made possible through funding assistance from the

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