Calgary activists say the fact that white supremacists staged a counter protest at two anti-racism events on August 25 shows that racism is more entrenched in Calgary than most citizens want to admit. “I think it really opened the eyes of Calgarians that these groups are alive and well, and they’re organizing and they’re going to continue to disseminate their message,” says David Este.
Este was one of the activists who attended an anti-racism protest in Kensington on August 25. Another protest was held later in the day in Marlborough. The two anti-racism events were held to protest a new neo-Nazi group that has formed in the city. Anti-racist activists say the group has been putting flyers up around the city. The group also slipped some flyers into a few copies of one issue of Fast Forward without the publication’s knowledge.
Este says he saw about 10 white supremacists at the August 25 protest in Kensington. Some were hoisting a “white pride” banner, and one held a Confederate flag. Este says he saw one giving the anti-racist protestors the Nazi salute. “What they stand for, the symbolism, is just utterly repulsive,” says Este.
One protestor at the Marlborough event, who asked only to be identified as a member of Anti-Racist Action Calgary due to fear of white supremacist retaliation, says he saw about six white supremacists hoisting a “white pride” banner. “They were provoking us. They were even yelling in German,” he says. The protestor says he saw one member give a Nazi salute. “You could see the contempt and anger on their faces,” says the activist. “They are a bunch of thugs who have a plan. This is something serious. They come to brainwash those who don’t know (better). Basically enlightenment is the weapon against them. We need to educate everybody about the intentions of these people.” He is concerned that on the group’s website there are photos of men wearing Nazi paraphernalia and holding weapons.
A member of the Ethno-Cultural Council of Calgary, who also asked not to be identified  due to fear of white supremacist retaliation, says she found it surprising that the anti-racist protests were crashed by neo-Nazis. “By and large, those sentiments are hidden in Alberta. The fact they chose to show up is a sort of confrontation,” she says. “It was scary and sad, but it also could serve as a reality check for people who have not experienced that type of thing happening in Calgary.”
She says the city needs to develop some kind of a strategy to deal with racism and discrimination. “I think our institutions have to inform the community what kind of strategy is in place to respond to this type of behavior,” she says. However, she adds it was very positive to see the number of Calgarians “standing up and responding” to racism at the two events.