Sol Littman on CBC Newsworld’s “On the Line”, May 25. The question posed to the audience across the country was: “Should there be limits on free speech?” The censors lost. The audience said YES, 27 per cent, and a resounding NO 73 per cent! The vindictive desire of Littman to gag dissent emerged in the debate with Collins.
The feisty World War II war hero said: “Nothing I have written is contrary to the hate laws.” “Give us time,” Littman warned. “Collins,” the goateed spokesman for the Simon Weisenthal Centre snapped, “is being tried for bigotry, not heresy.” He added that the draconian Bill C-33 press gag law — sometimes called the “Kill Collins Act” — “is the best and most efficient way to get at the subject” — Doug Collins.
Hands Off the Internet Rally
On Monday, May 26, the Canadian Human Rights Commission’s tribunal investigating a complaint by the relentless Sabina Citron and the Toronto Mayor’s Committee on Race Relations against publisher Ernst Zundel’s Zundelsite — a webpage run in Carlsbad, California, by a U.S. citizen, Dr. Ingrid Rimland — opened in Toronto. In a shameless effort to gag the Internet, the Canadian Human Rights Commission is claiming jurisdiction over the net — even though the site is located in another country The censors are basing their case on section 13(1) of the Canadian Human Rights Act which makes it a “discriminatory practice … to communicate telephonically … by means of the facilities of a telecommunications undertaking within the authority of Parliament any matter likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or ridicule” on the basis that they are members of one of the usually privileged groups: race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, etc.
The Zundelsite is not within the jurisdiction of Parliament as it is in California. Also, this section — aimed at telephone messages — does not apply. The Internet is not a telephonic message. It is a series of electronic signals, usually without a sound component and doesn’t rely exclusively on telephone wires for transmission. The Canadian Association for Free Expression held a rally demanding “Hands Off the Internet” outside the Toronto court where the human rights tribunal was being heard.
Two dozen free speechers found themselves confronted by Dr. Karen Mock, National Director of the League for Human Rights of B’nai Brith. Her appearance was followed a few minutes later by about a dozen foul-mouthed scruffs from the ARA (Anti-Racist Action) , a group linked to terrorism by CSIS.
“We want the Canadian Human Rights Commission’s jurisdiction over the Internet upheld,” said Mock. “Nazi liars” screamed the one-note ARA punks to all and sundry. One white ARA female wore a poster of Indians on her jacket that read: “My heroes have always killed cowboys.” A videotape of the confrontation seems to indicate a shrill Mock instructing the ARA: “Somebody film this guy. Who is he?” referring to one of the free speech supporters.
Free Speech Opponents Rejected By Voters
Two prominent opponents of free speech were decisively rejected by the voters, June 2. In North Vancouver Warren Kinsella, author of Web of Hate: Inside Canada’s Far Right Network, carried the Liberal banner. He ran true to form and conducted a scabrous campaign of smear and abuse against Ted White the Reform Party incumbent. On election night, the electors sent this eastern interloper packing.
He got 18,514 votes and placed a distant second to White, who won with 26,749. In Okanagan Shuswap, David Lethbridge, the censor of the Okanagan, and head of the Salmon Arm Coalition Against Racism (SACAR) ran for the Communist Party of Canada. He placed sixth, polling 369 votes, just 24,531 behind winner Reform Party incumbent Darrel Stinson. (Globe and Mail, June 4, 1997)
Raids on Resistance Records Smack of Political Police
On April 9, police in Michigan and Windsor, Ontario conducted simultaneous raids on the offices of Resistance Records, a company owned by Canadian George Burdi, which produces white rock, politically incorrect taps and discs. It also publishes Resistance Magazine that has a circulation of 19,000. (The Detroit News, Apri 10, 1997) Dealing with the politically incorrect, from Waco to Ruby Ridge, U.S. law enforcement authorities have begun to act like stormtroopers and goons. “Officers wearing bulletproof vests approached … the rural Highland Township home” and beat down the door. “‘They were operating a business without a licence and without preparing tax returns,’ said Sgt. Rodney Young of the Michigan State Police Treasury Division.”
(The Detroit News, April 10, 1997) And for this an armed raid was necessary? “Police also acknowledge that Wednesday’s six-hour search of Resistance Records was part of a co-ordinated raid with Ontario Provincial Police. ‘Both searches were for business records,’ said Rodney Young. Ontario Provincial Police Detective Sgt. Tom Whittaker said that his officers seized a large amount of business records, computers and discs. He said the investigation could take months to complete. [In Michigan], police “confiscated 100 boxes of business records, three IBM-compatible computers, flags, pamphlets and merchandise.”
(The Detroit News, April 11, 1997) “Authorities have used tax allegations against Resistance Records to try to put the … company out of business, the company’s secretary said [April 12]. Jason Snow … said Michigan and Ontario police confiscated nearly the entire music inventory of the company in a raid. … ‘All they would have had to do is pick up a phone and call us’ [about alleged unpaid taxes].
Instead, they chose to kick down the door. The government is using taxes as an excuse to shut us down.’ … ‘We’re always willing to pay taxes; that has never been an issue, said Eric Davidson, Resistance Records general manager.” (The Detroit News, April 13, 1997)