With the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia still fresh in people’s minds, some residents in Barrie are angry and disturbed about a controversial newspaper that’s shown up at their homes.
A Toronto publication called “Your Ward News” that many people refer to as hate propaganda has been distributed to neighbourhoods in Barrie.
“This is all hate propaganda - I’m disgusted that it’s in Barrie,” said resident Michael Werenich who had the publication delivered to his front step Wednesday. “A lot of it is blatant racism, fascism, bigotry, anything that promotes discrimination.”
Last year the federal government ordered Canada Post to stop delivering the free print, stating it was highly offensive and well outside the norm of Canadian values.
In the edition circulated in Barrie, one article states “Empiror Justin Truduea has been exposed byYour Ward News and goes on to say “make Canada great again” and includes a swastika.
“Very shocked – being Muslim the effect it has on us in the world right now,” said resident Homeyra Frever who also received a copy of the publication.
The publisher says the newspaperis freedom of speech. It was distributed in Barrie by volunteers who are members of NCP Youth and Sons of Freedom. The editor says those people were recruited through posters.
Barrie is considered a test market and officialswith the publication say the response has been positive.
“Our first Barrie test run had such a fantastic response with many positive emails and calls that we have made it a permanent distribution area,” said editor James Sears who added they upped the distribution to 25 thousand for the latest edition.
The publication claims it has a readership of over one million.
Human right’s experts say the publication is not free speech and is operating in a legally grey area.
"We all cherish freedom of speech; we all cherish the ability to state unpopular opinion, but it's not legal in Canada to publish things or to speak publicly in a way that can be interpreted as degrading or demeaning, or causing hatred of particular ethnic or racial groups," said Steve McDonald who is human rights and social work professor at Georgian College.
The mayor called the publication repulsive and said it’s not welcomed in Barrie.
“I have watched this community speak out against this kind of racism and bigotry time and again said Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman. “There’s a rally in solidarity with those who fought against bigotry and racism in Charlottesville and I know that's the real Barrie, not this kind of crap."
A rally will take place at Barrie city hall at 5:30 p.m. on Friday to denounce racism.
