Expect to see protesters gathering outside a People’s Party of Canada event in the city tomorrow.
The PPC, formed by Maxime Bernier after he split off from the federal Conservatives, is holding a meet-and-greet with local candidates at the Italian Cultural Centre from 5 to 8 o’clock Tuesday night.
Organizer Melody with the Anti Racist Solidarity Network, who didn’t want her last name used, wants to get word out about what she calls the party’s racist views.
“There’s many photos, as well as tweets by party members, of awfully racist things,” Melody claims, “And photos of Maxime Bernier with a white nationalist group while they’re making the white nationalist symbol, which is the OK [hand] sign.”
The PPC also came under fire in June after the Twitter account for the Burlington, Ontario riding association tweeted a racist meme. The tweet has since been deleted. PPC officials told media the tweet doesn’t reflect the party’s views, and that the person behind the account has been removed from the riding association.
“If we let them go uncontested, it makes racism more accessible, and minimizes the danger of these beliefs,” Melody adds.
Thunder Bay-Rainy River PPC candidate Andrew Hartnell says he’s “shocked” by the criticism, and claims the party is being misunderstood.
“Things that are being said, it’s the candidate’s opinion, and like everyone else in this country, you’re allowed to have your opinion. That’s one of the things about freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is one of the biggest parts of our platform.”
Hartnell says the party originally planned to hold the event at the Sleeping Giant Brewery, but it was cancelled after backlash on social media, including from the Anti Racist Solidarity Network.
He alleges organizers of the original meet-and-greet received “threatening emails and hate speech”.
The Facebook event for the protest says the PPC is “[a]n extremely fascist and racist political party”.
“They’re basically calling me, personally, fascist and racist,” Hartnell argues. “That’s not who I am and I don’t believe that’s what my party is like. There’s a lot of fear-mongering and misinformation.”
On social media, the Thunder Bay PPC say the meet-and-greet will also address protesters’ claims “calling the Party, homophobic, trans phobic, racist, fascists, white supremacists, and most of all an extreme right wing party.”
