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By CHUCK CHIANGToday staff
Wednesday October 24, 2007 Local authorities say they have not heard reports of stickers espousing hate speech in Fort McMurray recently, but added they are very concerned if the signs are appearing in the Oilsands City.
Their response comes after an e-mail received by Today this week included an image of a sticker the writer said was found on a garbage bin in the city.
The man who sent the message did not respond to an e-mail from Today and could not be found in the local telephone book.
The sticker, which describes Caucasians as “Earth’s most endangered species,” directs attention to a hate group based in West Virginia that has been described as Neo-Nazi by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a leading tracker of such organizations in the United States.
Const. Sandra Milner of the Fort McMurray RCMP said there has been no reports of the sticker to police, but added that they will definite pursue any case of hate crime if a confirmed report is received.
“As far as specific reports, we haven’t seen anything,” Milner said. “But any hate propaganda is very concerning. There is hate crime legislation, and if the comments (on the sticker) are racist or sexist in nature, it certainly could constitute a hate crime.”
Local groups in close contact with the various cultural communities in Fort McMurray, such as the YMCA’s Immigration Settlement Services, also haven’t seen or heard any reports of the stickers, officials said.
Irena Raicevic, executive director with the Fort McMurray Multicultural Association, said her organization also has not be informed of hate signs being posted in the community, but added it is disappointing if such stickers do exist, considering the region’s diverse nature.
“It’s very disturbing if that’s the case,” Raicevic said. “It’s exactly the thing we don’t want to see happening here. This sort of thing should not be going on.”
She added that reports of such signs is perhaps a good reminder for organizations like the multicultural association to continue its effort to foster understanding between various groups in Fort McMurray.
“It goes to show the importance of having an association like ours working towards ensuring equal civil rights for all people,” Raicevic said.
Similar incidents in the community have surfaced in the past, when unfounded rumours about local taxi drivers preying on local women were circulated earlier this year.
Those rumours prompted the local Somali community, many of whom are taxi drivers, to consult with the YMCA and RCMP about their civil rights and their role in the city.
SOURCE: Fort Mcmurray Today, October 24,2007