02) NEW CYCLE OF FASCIST VIOLENCE IN CALGARY

 

By Jason Devine, Calgary

 

Editor's note - Over the past several years, Calgary, Alberta has been the scene of so-called "white pride" demonstrations, vicious attacks against people of colour and anti-racists, and other actions by local neo-nazi groups. There has been a strong public response against these activities, led by Anti-Racist Action and other concerned groups and individuals. For some time until quite recently, the fascist "white pride" groups in Calgary had been less visible, while one of their key leaders served time in jail for his illegal actions.

 

            Among the prominent anti-racist campaigners in Calgary are Jason and Bonnie Devine, who have been the target of frequent threats and physical attacks. The latest violence against their home, reported here by Jason Devine, indicates that neo-nazi hatred is growing again. Readers are encouraged to contact the Calgary Police Service to demand swift action against the persons responsible for these crimes.

 

            In the early morning of 29 September 2013, between 5:10‑5:15 am, I was awoken by a loud noise, one which sounded like a metal pipe striking another metal pipe. Since we live in a busy working‑class street I assumed it was merely someone getting ready for work outside. Then I heard another, even louder noise. This time a crash and then glass breaking. Automatically I knew we were under or had just been attacked.

 

            I jumped out of bed and rushed to living room where Bonnie had been sleeping on the couch. She was coming out of her sleep, having heard the noise, and told me it sounded like an explosion of some type. I then ran downstairs to check on the boys. Seeing them safely asleep I then inspected each room and the windows to look for any structural damage. While I was doing this Bonnie checked the rooms upstairs and got dressed.

 

            I returned upstairs and got dressed. We both had found nothing until I pull the blinds up on the front window in our living room. There we saw that the first pane had been shattered, though thankfully the second pane was intact.

 

            Bonnie then phoned the police to get this attack on record and I started taking pictures in order to be able to post them online. Clearly it was not as Bonnie first thought a pipe bomb, but some projectile had been thrown at the window.

 

            After getting off the phone Bonnie ventured outside to inspect the damage; she took the camera and also crowbar in case those who did the attack were outside waiting.

 

            No one was there thankfully, but Bonnie found two broken pieces of a brick and took pictures of them and the glass outside. Clearly someone had thrown the brick and it broke on the first throw; this being the first sound I heard. Then they must have thrown it again, this time shattering the window.

 

            I then uploaded the pictures to Facebook with a small note on what had happened and what we felt it meant; I also alerted as many comrades, friends, and allies to the attack.

 

            In our mind it is quite clear who was behind this most recent attack: Blood & Honour‑Combat 18 (B&H‑C18). More specifically, we are certain it was the work of the local group led by Kyle McKee.

 

            In the context of the history of attacks we have faced, almost six years now, and in light of the fact that Kyle has been out of jail for the last 4‑5 months and has been actively organising in Calgary, who else would do such a thing?

 

            When the police officer arrived a couple of hours he asked who I suspected was behind the attack and I told him. He said it could be a possibility, but that I should put not too much stock in such a supposition.

 

            Well, later in the day Bonnie went to go out and pick up some food with our children when she discovered that three of our van's tires had been slashed. She phoned the officer back and reported this new fact. He came back to our house and inspected the tires. He then informed us both the he now believed that we were right in suspecting B&H, that he now suspected them as well, that he was considering this a hate crime, and was now sending this to the Calgary Police Services Hate Crimes Unit.

 

            The next day while Bonnie and the boys were on route to picking me up from work, one of the tires blew out; it turned out that they had actually slashed four tires, but did not fully succeed on the fourth tire. They were stranded far from home, but thankfully my Mother was able to pick them up, and thanks to friends and comrades we were able to change and replace the tires and get back up and running.

 

            Of course we do not know who exactly did this crime. Bonnie has conjectured that it was likely not Kyle McKee himself: after the firebombing and home invasion/murder attempt, throwing a brick is kids' stuff to him. Possibly it was a new B&H recruit being initiated. Who can say? But it really does not matter: what matters is the violence that has again occurred.

 

            It is, to some extent, wearying to talk about this, but it is even more wearying to go through it yet again. At times I lose count of all the attacks, threats, and slanders. All this violence has become normal to us, but something like this should never be normal for anyone.

 

            One thing that has been continual and keeps us going in the struggle is the love and solidarity from our comrades, friends, and family. From words of support like a recent letter of solidarity we received from the CUPW‑STTP, to helping pick up the damage, to monetary help, and to publicising the struggle as our comrades in the CPC have never failed to do, these past years have been an object lesson on the importance of unity and solidarity in any struggle.

 

            This recent attack is likely only the beginning of a new cycle of fascist violence here in Calgary. While Kyle McKee was incarcerated, B&H locally dissolved and fell apart. It was a nice, if short, peace. That is now over. New and worse forms of violence are now an eventuality for us and others. We must be on our guard. We must call for solidarity and we must organise. The struggle continues.

 

(The above article is from the November 1-15, 2013, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)