Ms. White,
Executive Director
Trillium Foundation
21 Bedford Rd.
Toronto, Ontario
M5R 2J9
FAX: 416-961-9599
CC: Ontario Politicians and Toronto Media
SENT VIA FACSIMILE 06/22/1996
Dear Ms. White,
I am writing to you regarding the Trillium Foundation
giving an $8,000 grant to a group known as "Anti-Racist Action",
or "ARA." The grant will be used to fund a two-day "Anti-Facist
Co-ordinating Conference", to be held from June 22nd to June 23rd
at Harbord Collegiate Institute.
My objection to the ARA receiving funding from
the Trillium Foundation is the fact that it has repeatedly used violence
and terrorism to further its cause.
In June, 1993, Anti-Racist Action members stormed
the East Toronto home of a Heritage Front supporter. They threw various
projectiles at the house, including human excrement. Their attack caused
substantial damage to the property, including smashed windows.
On December 9th, 1995, about two dozen ARA members
interrupted a private dinner meeting that was being sponsored by Citizens
for Foreign Aid Reform, at the Europe Restaurant in downtown Toronto. Ignoring
repeated requests to leave, they spat on the owner and on several people
attending the function. They also threw cream at items on a book table
and assaulted an elderly lady.
On their Internet world wide web site (http://www.web.apc.org/~ara),
they boast of having shut down the meeting. I include the entire text from
their website. It has been reformatted for this letter, but the text has
not been changed:
---[start]---
It's fun to crash a party. On December 9th Paul
Fromm's Canadians for Foreign Aid Reform (C-FAR) tried to hold a meeting.
ARA had other ideas.
Paul "Squeaky" Fromm - Neo-Nazi and
former high school teacher - formed C-FAR (also known as Crackers For the
Aryan Race) as a lobby group for the racist right.
On the 9th C-FAR was hoping to meet in a not-so-trendy
Blue Cellar Room restaurant on Bloor St., but ARA decided to be a fly in
their ointment. Sitting in the back room sipping tea, about 40 ARA folks
waited for the meeting to start. When the dozen or so withered old Nazi
freaks began to show we made our move and forced our way into the banquet
hall. "Call the police!! Call the police," shouted a Nazi hag.
"Fucking commie Jews, you're just like Stalin,"
cried Steve Dumas (pronounced dumb ass). This Nazi jock, and keynote speaker,
founded the pro-apartheid Northern Foundation. For his efforts he got a
nice gob right between the eyes from one of the grrrls.
When the kkkops finally showed it took them over
half an hour to finally get us out. Once outside we set up a loud protest
and picket letting neighbours know the score, and lots of people wanted
to know what else they could do to get rid of nazis.
The meeting was over before it had a chance to
begin. The owner quietly let Fromm out the back door. It was a great photo
opportunity as they scuttled to their cars and went wee wee wee all the
way to Zundel's home.
---[end]---
I want to make it clear to you that I do not
object to the ARA having their conference. Section 2 of the Canadian Charter
of Rights and Freedoms guarantees them the right to freedom of speech,
and the right of peaceful assembly. I do, however, strongly object to the
ARA's conference being funded by an organization that is connected with
the Ontario government, considering their violent history.
During our telephone conversation on June 21st,
you told me that you felt that the conference was a "worthy cause",
and that the Anti-Racist Action has never been convicted of a crime. Despite
this fact, their violent activities have been thoroughly documented; I
have provided you with three examples of their violent nature. The fact
that they have never been convicted of a crime does not mean that they
are not guilty. It means that our justice system is biased and corrupt.
I believe that the Trillium Foundation used poor
judgement when it decided to give the Anti-Racist Action an $8,000 grant.
By funding the Anti-Racist Action, the Trillium Foundation is condoning
their violent activities. Whenever the ARA commits illegal acts in the
future, I intend to remind everyone that this violent terrorist group was
funded by the Trillium Foundation.
Yours truly,
Christopher Saunders