M21 2010 -- Anti-racists celebrate diversity. Nazis fail to show.

On March 21, 200 anti-racist Calgarians gathered with Anti-Racist Action Calgary to celebrate the international day for the elimination of racism. Traditionally, this day has been a call to action for Calgarians to confront the small but vocal neo-Nazi presence in our city. For the last two years, Calgarians with ARA have shown the world that out city does not tolerate racist gangs like the Aryan Guard by shutting down their white power counter march.

The "increase the peace" posse

By the time M21 activities got underway this year, however, it was pretty much obvious to everyone that neither the haggard remnants of the Aryan Guard nor the four-strong membership of the Western European Bloodlines (W.E.B.) were going to even attempt to put on a march.

Last year they failed to complete their parade. This year they failed to even start it.

All that was left to do, then, was to celebrate diversity, multicultrualism and have fun on one of the warmest and sunniest days of the spring. There were some speeches, there was some kicking of the hacky sack, there was a lot of mutual complementing on the quality of various disguises and masks. The cops did some wheelies on their moutain bikes on the steps of City Hall (warning: do not try this if you are a non-cop citizen or you'll find yourself quickly on the wrong side of the double standard!)

Of course we anti-racists didn't go completely unopposed. A couple of neo-Nazi did stagger down to City Hall to "represent" in a wholly disorganized way. Lets look at who this cream-of-the-crop of modern fascism was.

"Willis" (William Mettingen)
If you're 13 and hang out at the skate park you may recognize "Willis" as that creepy older guy who likes to buy cigarettes for underagers and "teach" them how to bare knuckle box. If you were at M21, you'll recognize him as the shirtless wonder who tried to assault a photographer with his skateboard...while 60 cops looked on. Needless to say, Willis got his point across on M21 -- and that point was that he's both violent and dumb. He's been charged with assault with a weapon and released on a $500 no-cash bail. At his hearing on Monday morning, Willis pitched a sob story about how he's not really a Nazi or racist and it's all just been one big mistake. Someone should tell Willis that if you cover yourself with racist tattoos, throw around the "seig heil" salute and assault people at an anti-racist demo while yelling white power slogans, no one is going to believe you when you say you're not a Nazi.

Layton Bertsch
It's a sad day when the best-spoken representative of your movement is Layton! Some in the media were lulled by his preppy sweater and soothing words, but ARA would like to remind everyone that at the October 14, 2007 anti-racist demo, Layton Bertsch assaulted an anti-racist activst with a bottle. Not very preppy!

Kat Hibler
Kat is a tragic case. A former girlfriend of Robert Reitmeier, the Calgary Nazi recently voted "most likely to inform on his comrades" by the local fascist crew, she travelled all the way to Calgary from Ontario to be part of the "glorious" white pride march. Seems she didn't get the memo from her pals that their event had been cancelled. Or maybe that was deliberate? Seems Kat isn't too popular with the local racists because she's Albanian... and that puts her "white credentials" in jeapordy.

But with opposition like that, it's pretty apparent that Fascism in Calgary is all but dead. M21 belongs again to us, the Calgarians who say 'no' to hate.

We call this one a win.

On Sunday March 21, come out and show the violent thugs of the Aryan Guard and White European Bloodlines that we will not stand for racism or any other kind of oppression in our community.

What: Calgarians standing up and saying racism is not welcome
Where: The steps of City Hall
When: Sunday, March 21 11:00 am

Over the last several years, racist, neo-Nazi gangs such as the Aryan Guard and White European Bloodlines have tried to make Calgary their home. On March 21, Calgarians will be gathering to show these thugs that hatred is not welcome in this city.

The day will start with a celebration of our community's cultural diversity in recognition of the International Day for the Elimination of Racism. Should the Aryan Guard or W.E.B. choose to stage a counter-march in the afternoon, we encourage all who are willing to confront them.

This event is open to all and is intended to be confrontational but non-violent.

The Aryan Guard and W.E.B. are nothing more than violent, racist gangs. Their members include:

Kyle McKee (Aryan Guard founder): Currently in jail facing charges of attempted murder for a bomb attack. Previous convictions for assault.

John Marleau (Aryan Guard): Currently in jail for attacking a C-Train operator with a knife.

Robert Reitmeier (W.E.B.): Previously charged with attempted murder.

R.N. (Aryan Guard): Convicted of assault for attacking woman from behind. R.N. is not named as he was a minor at the time of the assault.

Tyler Sturrup (W.E.B.): Numerous convictions for theft.

here's the official press release for the june 27th demo...

Anti-Racists announce demonstration against neo-nazi violence ARA calls on community to send message police, city hall refuse to

Anti-Racist Action (ARA) Calgary is calling on residents of the Kensington, Sunnyside and Hillhurst neighborhoods and other concerned Calgarians to take a stand against racist violence in their community.

“We’ve seen a definite increase in violence and recruitment efforts by the Aryan Guard in the area, especially in and around Riley Park,” says Lev, a spokesperson for ARA.

ARA Calgary has recently announced a peaceful anti-racist rally to take place between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 27 at Riley Park to demonstrate that Calgarians won’t tolerate racism and violence of the neo-Nazi gang in their communities any longer.

Activists Successfully shut down Neo-Nazi March
More than 500 people prevent racist rally in downtown Calgary

More than 500 anti-racist activists converged on downtown Calgary this afternoon to successfully prevent local neo-Nazi hate group the Aryan Guard from holding a rally of their own.

"Going into the day, our best-case scenario was that we actually stop the Aryan Guard from reaching their planned destination: City Hall," says Lev, a member of Anti-Racist Action Calgary, one of the many groups who helped organize the event.

"In that respect, we think the rally today was a major success."

The anti-racist demonstrators staged their own peaceful rally at City Hall this morning to celebrate the UN's International Day for the Elimination of Racism and Discrimination.

However, when about 30 members of the Aryan Guard arrived at Mewata Armoury around 3:00 p.m. the anti-racists, their numbers bolstered by outraged passersby, set in motion their plan to prevent the Aryan Guard from reaching City Hall.

The two groups clashed several times as police attempted to block the progress of the ant-racists and move the Aryan Guard closer and closer to City Hall.

Anti-Racist Action has received several reliable reports of police brutality and preemptive arrests taking place against anti-racism protesters throughout the afternoon.

Anyone who feels they were the victim of excessive force at the hands of Calgary police are being urged to document the details of the assault as well as any injuries they sustained, and to contact Anti-Racist Action Calgary and antiracistcalgary@gmail.com.

"From the use of excessive force and preemptive arrests to the ignoring of blatant acts of violence committed by the Aryan Guard in front of their very eyes, the Calgary Police Service today damaged their reputation in the minds of many Calgarians," says Lev.

Ultimately, the Aryan Guard made it just three blocks for their drop-off point before being put aboard city buses by police and returned to their transportation.

On Saturday, March 21 come tell the Aryan Guard that they are NOT welcome in Calgary.

Every year on March 21, the white supremacist gang the Aryan Guard marches in Calgary to spread their message of hate. Anti-Racist Action is calling on Calgarians to come out and show their opposition to the Aryan Guard.

What: A demonstration against racism and the Aryan Guard
When: Saturday, March 21 10:00am onwards
Where: The steps of City Hall - 700 McLeod Tr SE
Why: To show the world Calgary does not tolerate racism and white supremacists

This demonstration is a community event called for and promoted by Anti-Racist Action. ARA encourages everyone to bring any signs,banners or flags they feel appropriate. We intend this to be a non-violent but confrontational rally.

Last year on March 21, over 200 anti-racism protesters confronted 40 Aryan Guard supporters in downtown Calgary.

For further information about this event or ARA please contact antiracistcalgary@gmail.com

About Anti-Racist Action
Anti-Racist Action or ARA, is a citizen group of anti-racist activists with over 200 affiliated chapters around the world. ARA was founded in Minneapolis in 1988 and ARA Calgary has been active since 1995.

About the Aryan Guard
The Aryan Guard are a white supremacist and neo-Nazi gang formed in Calgary in late 2006 by Kyle McKee and Dallas Price. Their official membership numbers around twenty, with a further twenty or thirty non-member associates. The Aryan Guard are officially affiliated with the National Socialist Party of Canada. Currently, one member of the Aryan Guard is charged with a racially-motivated assault for attacking a japanese woman from behind. For further information on the Aryan Guard, refer to the One People's Project page at one people's project

About March 21
March 21 is officially the International Day for the Elimination of Racism. In a cynical attempt to co-opt this day, the Aryan Guard have decided to choose it for their annual white power march.

Anti-Racist Action is announcing a Nazi-Free Calgary demonstration to be held on Sunday September 7 at 1:00pm in Kensington.

The last several months have seen the neo-Nazi gangs the Aryan Guard and W.E.B becoming bolder and more aggressive in our city. The much publicized ploy by the Guard to boost their ranks of stormtrooper wannabes by offering to pay applicants' rent has been followed by a rash assaults on women of colour by white men dressed as "skinheads".

It is time for the people of Calgary to stand up and say "No" to violent racist gangs. It's time for us to take our streets and city back.

It's time for a Nazi-Free Calgary Demonstration!

what: Anti-Racism demo
where:   Kensington. 1133 Kensington Road NW
when:   Sunday, Sept 7 - 1:00pm

ARA encourages everyone and anyone who is concerned about racism and racist violence in our city to come out and demonstrate!

For more information, contact ARA directly.