Aryan Guard
Encyclopedia
The Aryan Guard is an Alberta
-based neo-Nazi
group with members primarily located in the city of Calgary
. It was founded in 2006 and was reported disbanded in 2009 as a result of internal conflict including pipe bomb
ing attacks. However, the group denies these claims and is still operating.
for Holocaust Studies suspect that the individual responsible for the flyers may be Billy-Bob Noble, a neo-Nazi well-known to law enforcement for his online racist rants and who has been in the past charged under Section 319 of the Canadian Criminal Code for wilful promotion of hatred. The Aryan Guard's website is also registered in Noble's name.
At a human rights panel discussion at the Glenbow Museum on August 14, 2007, the topic of the Aryan Guard was discussed. Although the flyers were “racially charged” and “disturbing,” Inspector Bob Couture of the Calgary Police Services, a speaker on the panel, stated that “there was not enough basis to take action against the group.”
and opposition to racism and racist movements. Some members of the Aryan Guard organized a counter-protest in response to the anti-racist rally. On October 14, 2007, approximately 15 Aryan Guard members protested at Calgary City Hall but were drastically outnumbered by anti-racism protesters. Police were forced to step in as a safety precaution.
On March 21, "a date recognized as both a white pride world wide day and as a celebration for the elimination of racism", in 2008, the Aryan Guard staged a demonstration in downtown Calgary. More than 40 supporters of the Aryan Guard faced a crowd of over 200 anti-racist protesters who prevented the Guard from reaching their planned meeting place at the Mewata Armouries
. Police then formed a human barrier between the two groups and blocked the movement of the counter-protesters while escorting the Aryan Guard down Stephen Avenue
and up the steps of City Hall, where they waved flags proclaiming "White Pride Worldwide". Members of the Aryan Guard also taunted Jason Devine and Bonnie Collins, local anti-racism activists whose home was firebombed on February 12, 2008, while they and their four children were inside. As the demonstration wound down, members of the Aryan Guard were escorted to a waiting school bus by police and evacuated from the scene. An unknown number of anti-racism protesters, who had been under video surveillance during the demonstration, were detained as they left and forced to have their identification recorded by police.
On March 21, 2009, the Aryan Guard held another white pride
rally in downtown Calgary where they confronted anti-racist, counter-protestors which led to a brawl between the two parties that brought traffic to a standstill. Several people had to be treated for injuries. The Aryan Guard had received media attention earlier that year on January 10 when they appeared at a protest against Israel
's actions in the Gaza Strip
, despite being asked to leave by the protest organizers.
s coordinator for the Calgary Police Service
, the Aryan Guard is considered a "criminal activity group."
On August 28, 2008, four members of the Aryan Guard were arrested for vandalism that occurred on the Siksika First Nations Reserve near the community of Gleichen, Alberta. On July 27, 2008, a 17 year old member of the Aryan Guard assaulted a Japanese woman leaving a Calgary bar. The Aryan Guard member was later convicted of the assault on March 13, 2009; he was released in April 2009 having been in jail since October 2008.
On the morning of November 21, 2009, two homemade bombs were left on the doorstep of W.E.B. member Tyler Sturrup. The devices were found and removed to a nearby parking lot moments before detonating.
Just hours after Aryan Guard member John Marleau was questioned by police in connection to the bombing, warrants for attempted murder and other charges were issued for Aryan Guard founder Kyle McKee and a 17-year-old accomplice who cannot be named under provisions of Canada's Youth Criminal Justice Act
. After the bomb attempt, the Aryan Guard's web site indicated the group had disbanded.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
-based neo-Nazi
Neo-Nazism
Neo-Nazism consists of post-World War II social or political movements seeking to revive Nazism or some variant thereof.The term neo-Nazism can also refer to the ideology of these movements....
group with members primarily located in the city of Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
. It was founded in 2006 and was reported disbanded in 2009 as a result of internal conflict including pipe bomb
Pipe bomb
A pipe bomb is an improvised explosive device, a tightly sealed section of pipe filled with an explosive material. The containment provided by the pipe means that simple low explosives can be used to produce a relatively large explosion, and the fragmentation of the pipe itself creates potentially...
ing attacks. However, the group denies these claims and is still operating.
Origin
The Aryan Guard was founded in late 2006 but did not gain any media attention until 2007 when members began a flyering campaign targeting immigrants. Some of these flyers had been surreptitiously placed in the free Calgary arts and culture newspaper, “Fast Forward” by Aryan Guard members. The Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal CenterSimon Wiesenthal Center
The Simon Wiesenthal Center , with headquarters in Los Angeles, California, was established in 1977 and named for Simon Wiesenthal, the Nazi hunter. According to its mission statement, it is "an international Jewish human rights organization dedicated to repairing the world one step at a time...
for Holocaust Studies suspect that the individual responsible for the flyers may be Billy-Bob Noble, a neo-Nazi well-known to law enforcement for his online racist rants and who has been in the past charged under Section 319 of the Canadian Criminal Code for wilful promotion of hatred. The Aryan Guard's website is also registered in Noble's name.
At a human rights panel discussion at the Glenbow Museum on August 14, 2007, the topic of the Aryan Guard was discussed. Although the flyers were “racially charged” and “disturbing,” Inspector Bob Couture of the Calgary Police Services, a speaker on the panel, stated that “there was not enough basis to take action against the group.”
Activities
In response to the Aryan Guard's activities in the city, Calgary anti-racist activists held a rally in support of Calgary's multiculturalismMulticulturalism
Multiculturalism is the appreciation, acceptance or promotion of multiple cultures, applied to the demographic make-up of a specific place, usually at the organizational level, e.g...
and opposition to racism and racist movements. Some members of the Aryan Guard organized a counter-protest in response to the anti-racist rally. On October 14, 2007, approximately 15 Aryan Guard members protested at Calgary City Hall but were drastically outnumbered by anti-racism protesters. Police were forced to step in as a safety precaution.
On March 21, "a date recognized as both a white pride world wide day and as a celebration for the elimination of racism", in 2008, the Aryan Guard staged a demonstration in downtown Calgary. More than 40 supporters of the Aryan Guard faced a crowd of over 200 anti-racist protesters who prevented the Guard from reaching their planned meeting place at the Mewata Armouries
Mewata Armouries
Mewata Armoury is a Canadian Forces reserve armoury in Calgary, Alberta.The building was built between 1915 and 1918 for an original cost of $282,051 Canadian dollars. The building was designed by T.W. Fuller and the project was supervised locally by Calgary architect Leo Dowler...
. Police then formed a human barrier between the two groups and blocked the movement of the counter-protesters while escorting the Aryan Guard down Stephen Avenue
Stephen Avenue
Stephen Avenue is a major pedestrian mall in downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The mall is actually the portion of 8 Avenue SW between 4 Street SW and 1 Street SE. It is open to vehicles only from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m....
and up the steps of City Hall, where they waved flags proclaiming "White Pride Worldwide". Members of the Aryan Guard also taunted Jason Devine and Bonnie Collins, local anti-racism activists whose home was firebombed on February 12, 2008, while they and their four children were inside. As the demonstration wound down, members of the Aryan Guard were escorted to a waiting school bus by police and evacuated from the scene. An unknown number of anti-racism protesters, who had been under video surveillance during the demonstration, were detained as they left and forced to have their identification recorded by police.
On March 21, 2009, the Aryan Guard held another white pride
White pride
White pride is a slogan indicating pride in being white. The slogan has been adopted by neo-Nazi and white supremacist organizations.White pride advocates claim that there is a cultural double standard in which only certain ethnic groups are permitted to openly express pride in their heritage, and...
rally in downtown Calgary where they confronted anti-racist, counter-protestors which led to a brawl between the two parties that brought traffic to a standstill. Several people had to be treated for injuries. The Aryan Guard had received media attention earlier that year on January 10 when they appeared at a protest against Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
's actions in the Gaza Strip
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
, despite being asked to leave by the protest organizers.
Criminal convictions and other legal troubles
According to Const. Lynn MacDonald, the hate crimeHate crime
In crime and law, hate crimes occur when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her perceived membership in a certain social group, usually defined by racial group, religion, sexual orientation, disability, class, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, gender identity, social status or...
s coordinator for the Calgary Police Service
Calgary Police Service
Calgary Police Service, formed in 1885, is the municipal police force for the City of Calgary, Alberta.- Organization :Founded in 1885, the current head of the CPS is Chief Rick Hanson...
, the Aryan Guard is considered a "criminal activity group."
On August 28, 2008, four members of the Aryan Guard were arrested for vandalism that occurred on the Siksika First Nations Reserve near the community of Gleichen, Alberta. On July 27, 2008, a 17 year old member of the Aryan Guard assaulted a Japanese woman leaving a Calgary bar. The Aryan Guard member was later convicted of the assault on March 13, 2009; he was released in April 2009 having been in jail since October 2008.
On the morning of November 21, 2009, two homemade bombs were left on the doorstep of W.E.B. member Tyler Sturrup. The devices were found and removed to a nearby parking lot moments before detonating.
Just hours after Aryan Guard member John Marleau was questioned by police in connection to the bombing, warrants for attempted murder and other charges were issued for Aryan Guard founder Kyle McKee and a 17-year-old accomplice who cannot be named under provisions of Canada's Youth Criminal Justice Act
Youth Criminal Justice Act
Canada's Youth Criminal Justice Act is a Canadian statute, which came into effect on April 1, 2003. It covers the prosecution of youths for criminal offences...
. After the bomb attempt, the Aryan Guard's web site indicated the group had disbanded.