Planned rally by alt-right hate group condemned in Hamilton and by Oshawa anti-hate think tank

The rise of alt-right hate groups like Diagolon – which is scheduled to arrive in Hamilton at the end of the month to rally its followers – is directly linked to the rise of hate speech and hate crimes happening across Canada and the world, said the Director of the Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism at Ontario Tech University in Oshawa.

“It is the sort of narratives associated with Diagolon – anti-immigrant sentiment, Islamophobia, antisemitism, anti-authority messaging – that is contributing to the rise of hateful sentiment and action across the country,” said Dr. Barbara Perry, who was hired to head up the centre and study the impacts of extremist organizations in 2018 and UNESCO’s Research Chair in Hate Studies in 2022.

“The so-called ‘Road Rage Terror Tour’ is an obvious strategy to promote their propaganda at their planned stops – like Hamilton – to raise funds, and to send a message to targeted communities.”

Dr. Barbara Perry, Director of the Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism at Ontario Tech in Oshawa

Groups like Diagalon go where they’re wanted and Perry emphasized the importance of speaking out against hate in the community. She welcomed community organizations like the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI) and its allies, who are calling for action to stop Diagalon from the Hamilton rally, saying “we must stand together against white supremacy.”

Diagolon started as an online conspiracy theory group espousing anti-semitism and holocaust denial and continue to be involved in ongoing convoy-style protests around the country with a particular bent to “violent anti-south Asian rhetoric,” HCCI said, adding in a statement that the hate group espouses “violent, neo-fascist, eugenicist views,” with a goal of inciting racist violence.

HCCI and other groups who have signed on to the protest are asking venues to “refuse to book space” to Diagolon or anyone affiliated with white supremacist groups and to reach out to other venue operators with the same message.

“It’s a dangerous trend when we see fear-mongers make such public appearances,” Perry said.

Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath condemned Diagolon’s planned appearance, saying “Hamilton has no place for hate.”

“Everyone has the right to live in their city free of racism and discrimination, and as leaders, we have a responsibility to stand up to hate every time we see or hear it. This group is not welcome here.”

Diagalon advertised a list of cities it was planning to visit over the next few weeks, including Hamilton.

Perry, however, said Horwath and other leaders must do more than just offer platitudes, and instead talk about the real harms these kinds of groups, who Perry believes want to accelerate a “civil war” to restore a white, Christian ethno-state in Canada, can do if they are given any power.

Diagolon supporters with weapons and the group’s flag