Northern Alliance (White supremacist organization)
Encyclopedia
The Northern Alliance is a far right
, white supremacist organization based in London, Ontario, Canada. The group started in 1997, and has been involved in a number of public controversies. The group's leading members include Jason Ouwendyk
, Tyler Chilcott, Dave Ruud, and Tomas Szymanski. The number of members in the group is not known.
The Northern Alliance was founded with the help of Raphael Bergmann, an associate of holocaust denier
Ernst Zündel
, who has said former Heritage Front
leader Wolfgang Droege
was a mentor. Bergmann addressed two gatherings of the Ku Klux Klan
in the 1990s, and reportedly organized racialist rock
concerts in London during the same period. Bergmann claims that he started the Northern Alliance as a "discussion group", and that its members met on an informal basis. Others have questioned this claim and have suggested that the group existed as a more formal organization from its earliest days.
Members of the Northern Alliance have met to discuss subjects such as immigration
, racism
and the Ontario Human Rights Commission
, from a racialist and Euro-centric perspective. Many of the group's members appear to have been racist skinheads.
, the group is dedicated to "the protection and advancement of the rights of Canadians of European descent", which it describes as "the most beautiful, creative and intelligent race on Earth." The group advocates that Canada "return to its former immigration policies and exclude peoples from non-Western
countries", also arguing that "only those with European ancestry should be permitted to become citizens of Canada". The group opposes drug legalization on the grounds that "illicit drug use is detrimental to White
society", and abortion
on the grounds that "abortion stops a White heart". It opposes same-sex marriage
and interracial marriage
. Their website had included links to groups such as the Canadian National Socialist Front, BC White Pride and the Imperial Klans of Canada, as well as to other racist groups from around the world.
. Bergmann and Chilcott were not charged with any offence, so party president Robert Metz decided to take up their cause as a free speech issue. Lloyd Walker, then-leader of the Freedom Party, requested that the Solicitor General of Ontario
, David Tsubouchi
, provide a list of "extreme" political beliefs that could result in such police action.
On December 3, 1999, the London Free Press
, using information from Detective Superintendent Dave Lucio, published an article describing the Northern Alliance as "urban terrorists", and listed Bergmann as the group's leader. Bergmann launched a civil suit against the paper, based on the article and a follow-up piece published the next day.
During the 1999 controversy, Bergmann claimed that the Northern Alliance was not a formal organization, and denied that he held any official leadership position. Others have cast serious doubts on these claims and have argued that Bergmann deliberately downplayed his group's racialist beliefs in an attempt to gain mainstream credibility.http://www.antiracistaction.ca/bergmann.html In mid-2000, Bergmann organized a "Straight Pride" parade in London and Toronto
, as a hostile response to the cities' Gay Pride
parades. On December 14, 2003, an article in the Toronto Star
described the Northern Alliance as "an especially poisonous hate group".
Jason Ouwendyk and the Northern Alliance are the subject of a complaint made to the Canadian Human Rights Commission
by Richard Warman
who has successfully taken several other far right figures to the Commission.
Far right
Far-right, extreme right, hard right, radical right, and ultra-right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or quantitative position a group or person occupies within right-wing politics. Far-right politics may involve anti-immigration and anti-integration stances towards groups that are...
, white supremacist organization based in London, Ontario, Canada. The group started in 1997, and has been involved in a number of public controversies. The group's leading members include Jason Ouwendyk
Jason Ouwendyk
Jason Ouwendyk was a figure in Canadian white-supremacist movement. He is the former spokesman of the Northern Alliance. Ouwendyk assumed the role with the Northern Alliance soon after group founder Raphael Bergmann left the group....
, Tyler Chilcott, Dave Ruud, and Tomas Szymanski. The number of members in the group is not known.
The Northern Alliance was founded with the help of Raphael Bergmann, an associate of holocaust denier
Holocaust denial
Holocaust denial is the act of denying the genocide of Jews in World War II, usually referred to as the Holocaust. The key claims of Holocaust denial are: the German Nazi government had no official policy or intention of exterminating Jews, Nazi authorities did not use extermination camps and gas...
Ernst Zündel
Ernst Zündel
Ernst Christof Friedrich Zündel is a German Holocaust denier and pamphleteer who was jailed several times in Canada for publishing literature which "is likely to incite hatred against an identifiable group" and for being a threat to national security, in the United States for overstaying his visa,...
, who has said former Heritage Front
Heritage Front
The Heritage Front was a Canadian neo-Nazi white supremacist organization founded in 1989 and disbanded around 2005.The Heritage Front maintained a telephone message line with a different editorial each day. The voice on the hotline was Gary Schipper...
leader Wolfgang Droege
Wolfgang Droege
Wolfgang Walter Droege was a Canadian white supremacist, neo-Nazi and founding leader of the Heritage Front.-Early life:...
was a mentor. Bergmann addressed two gatherings of the Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
in the 1990s, and reportedly organized racialist rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
concerts in London during the same period. Bergmann claims that he started the Northern Alliance as a "discussion group", and that its members met on an informal basis. Others have questioned this claim and have suggested that the group existed as a more formal organization from its earliest days.
Members of the Northern Alliance have met to discuss subjects such as immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
, racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
and the Ontario Human Rights Commission
Ontario Human Rights Commission
The Ontario Human Rights Commission was established in the Canadian province of Ontario on March 29, 1961 to administer the Ontario Human Rights Code...
, from a racialist and Euro-centric perspective. Many of the group's members appear to have been racist skinheads.
Beliefs
According to the group's manifestoManifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
, the group is dedicated to "the protection and advancement of the rights of Canadians of European descent", which it describes as "the most beautiful, creative and intelligent race on Earth." The group advocates that Canada "return to its former immigration policies and exclude peoples from non-Western
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
countries", also arguing that "only those with European ancestry should be permitted to become citizens of Canada". The group opposes drug legalization on the grounds that "illicit drug use is detrimental to White
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
society", and abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
on the grounds that "abortion stops a White heart". It opposes same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
and interracial marriage
Interracial marriage
Interracial marriage occurs when two people of differing racial groups marry. This is a form of exogamy and can be seen in the broader context of miscegenation .-Legality of interracial marriage:In the Western world certain jurisdictions have had regulations...
. Their website had included links to groups such as the Canadian National Socialist Front, BC White Pride and the Imperial Klans of Canada, as well as to other racist groups from around the world.
Controversies
In 1999, 17 members of the Northern Alliance, including Bergmann and Tyler Chilcott, received letters from London's police force, describing the Northern Alliance as an "extreme right wing" group, and "requiring" the group members to appear at police headquarters to clarify their beliefs. The members refused to comply, and Bergmann and Chilcott took the letter to the leaders of the Freedom Party of OntarioFreedom Party of Ontario
The Freedom Party of Ontario is a provincial political party in Ontario, Canada. It was founded on January 1, 1984 in London, Ontario by Robert Metz and Marc Emery, as a successor to the Unparty....
. Bergmann and Chilcott were not charged with any offence, so party president Robert Metz decided to take up their cause as a free speech issue. Lloyd Walker, then-leader of the Freedom Party, requested that the Solicitor General of Ontario
Solicitor General of Ontario
The Solicitor General of Ontario was in charge of the Ministry of the Solicitor General of Ontario is responsible for police and other law enforcement agencies in the province...
, David Tsubouchi
David Tsubouchi
is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2003, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of Mike Harris and Ernie Eves.-Education:...
, provide a list of "extreme" political beliefs that could result in such police action.
On December 3, 1999, the London Free Press
London Free Press
The London Free Press is a daily newspaper based in London, Ontario, Canada.The London Free Press began as the Canadian Free Press, founded by William Sutherland in 1847. It first began printing as a weekly newspaper in 1849. In 1852, it was purchased for $500 by Josiah Blackburn, who renamed it...
, using information from Detective Superintendent Dave Lucio, published an article describing the Northern Alliance as "urban terrorists", and listed Bergmann as the group's leader. Bergmann launched a civil suit against the paper, based on the article and a follow-up piece published the next day.
During the 1999 controversy, Bergmann claimed that the Northern Alliance was not a formal organization, and denied that he held any official leadership position. Others have cast serious doubts on these claims and have argued that Bergmann deliberately downplayed his group's racialist beliefs in an attempt to gain mainstream credibility.http://www.antiracistaction.ca/bergmann.html In mid-2000, Bergmann organized a "Straight Pride" parade in London and Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, as a hostile response to the cities' Gay Pride
Gay pride
LGBT pride or gay pride is the concept that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity...
parades. On December 14, 2003, an article in the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
described the Northern Alliance as "an especially poisonous hate group".
Jason Ouwendyk and the Northern Alliance are the subject of a complaint made to the Canadian Human Rights Commission
Canadian Human Rights Commission
The Canadian Human Rights Commission is a quasi-judicial body that was established in 1977 by the government of Canada. It is empowered under the Canadian Human Rights Act to investigate and try to settle complaints of discrimination in employment and in the provision of services within federal...
by Richard Warman
Richard Warman
Richard Warman is an Ottawa-based lawyer who is active in human rights law. Warman worked for the Canadian Human Rights Commission from July 2002 until March 2004...
who has successfully taken several other far right figures to the Commission.