The League for Human Rights of B'nai Brith Canada
A Brief History
Racism and hate propaganda have long been part of the Canadian
experience, beginning with the campaign of dehumanization of
Native peoples by European settles, resulting in cultural
genocide and unpunished abuses. There is also evidence of
rampant anti-Semititsm in the early days of Canada, with later
hate propaganda against Chinese, Sikh and Japanese Canadians.
By the 1920's and 1930's, Blacks, Catholics and Jews were
being viciously attacted by hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan.
As immigration increased after World War I, so did the
backlash against foreigners, minority groups and individuals.
Hate groups feasted then, as they do now, on tension and
turmoil.
During World War II, prominent Canadians praised Hitler's
leadership, while government policy denied safety to European
Jews fleeing Nazi persecution.
Hate group activity is related to shifts in attitudes towards
politics and minority groups. In times of prosperity, as
acceptance of diverse groups and communities rises, hate group
and overt racist activity decline. Economic downturn is usually
accompanied by scapegoating of minorities and immigrants by
those looking for someone to blame for their problems. As in
the 1920's and 1930's, the recession of the 1990's has
proved to be an opportune time for a rise in hate group
activity.
In these difficult economic times, many young people, unless
parents, teachers and others are observant, can be enlisted
through exposure to continuous hate propaganda aimed at
recruiting them to the racist cause.
The
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