1984 ⟶ Supreme Court of Canada Upholds Keegstra's Conviction
Keegstra was charged under s 281.2(2) of the Criminal Code (...
Year
1970
1984
1985
🇨🇦 Canadian Legislation Regarding Nazi Flags
Canada has no legislation specifically restricting the ownership, display, purchase, import or export of Nazi flags. However, sections 318–320 of the Criminal Code, adopted by Canada's parliament in 1970 and based in large part on the 1965 Cohen Committee recommendations, provide law enforcement agencies with broad scope to intervene if such flags are used to communicate hatred in a public place (particularly sections 319(1), 319(2), and 319(7).⟶
CanadaNazi flagsCriminal CodeHate speechLegislation1970sFreedom of speechSymbolism
Canada⚖️ Supreme Court of Canada Upholds Keegstra's Conviction
Keegstra was charged under s 281.2(2) of the Criminal Code (now s 319(2), which provides that "Every one who, by communicating statements, other than in private conversation, wilfully promotes hatred against any identifiable group" commits a criminal offence. He was convicted at trial before the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench. The court rejected the argument, advanced by Keegstra and his lawyer, Doug Christie, that promoting hatred is a constitutionally protected freedom of expression as per s 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Keegstra appealed to the Alberta Court of Appeal. That court agreed with Keegstra, and he was acquitted. The Crown then appealed the case to the Supreme Court of Canada, which rule by a 4–3 majority that promoting hatred could be justifiably restricted under s 1 of the Charter. The Supreme Court restored Keegstra's conviction. He was fired from his teaching position shortly afterwards.⟶
Hate SpeechCanadian LawFreedom of SpeechAntisemitismSupreme Court of CanadaJames KeegstraLegal CaseCanadian Charter of Rights and FreedomsLegislation
Canada👨🏫 James Keegstra's Antisemitic Teachings
In 1984, James Keegstra, a Canadian high-school teacher, was charged under the Canadian Criminal Code for "promoting hatred against an identifiable group by communicating anti-Semitic statements to his students". During class, he would describe Jews as a people of profound evil who had "created the Holocaust to gain sympathy." He also tested his students in exams on his theories and opinion of Jews.⟶
AntisemitismHolocaust DenialHate SpeechEducationJames KeegstraFreedom of SpeechCanadian Law1980s
Canada🔥 Louis Farrakhan's Ovens Remark
At a meeting of the Nation of Islam at Madison Square Garden in 1985, Louis Farrakhan said of the Jews: "And don't you forget, when it's God who puts you in the ovens, it's forever!"⟶
AntisemitismNation of IslamLouis FarrakhanHolocaustHate SpeechBlack Nationalism1980sRhetoric
United States