"Caledonia Wake Up Call" a Complete Flop;
Event Organizer Bails, Leaving Fellow Racists Confused
Report-back from the Six Nations land reclamation.
January 18th, 2007

Despite weeks of threats and tough talk by Richmond Hill racist Gary McHale, a planned anti-First Nations rally in Caledonia drew far less than the 20,000 participants that organizers had predicted. Even though it was a beautiful day, media reports put attendance at only a few hundred -- that's only 1 or 2% of what organizers had hoped for. A cynical observer might have asked if some racists had slept through their "wake up call". The math doesn't lie: McHale says that he and his wife spent 16 hours a day since June organizing this rally. That means 137 days times 16 hours a day times 2 equals a combined 4384 hours. That means the McHale's organizing only resulted in one person coming for every ten hours of work. Hardly results to be bragged about.

But even the 1-2% success estimate was being generous from our observations -- counting in media, and local people just out to see what was happening. No wonder McHale ran off cowering and with his tail between his legs when the marchers approached police lines. Despite later claiming he'd done what he'd promised, to us it was obvious he was just doing what little boys do when things don't go their way: taking his toys and going home.

McHale initially became a provincial media hound when his website "Caledonia Wake Up Call" started suggesting the idea of a confrontational rally, to spark a conflict with members of the Six Nations community who are in the process of reclaiming land stolen from them. In the spring of 2006 there were major clashes between First Nations people reclaiming the land, and the police (as well as with local racists in Caledonia, who agitated the situation whenever possible). During the summer the situation settled somewhat, with the reclamation still ongoing, but the violent clashes gone, and the blockades in the roads removed.

Who better to get everyone up in a huff again than an outsider bent on venting his racist diatribes and hatred of Native peoples, and interested in making a quick buck as well. Gary McHale and his wife Christine began a speaking tour across the province, trying to work people into a frenzy of hatred for the Six Nations people participating in the reclamation. Eventually a date was set for their march, the media salivated in pure delight over the potential for violence, and calls went out for solidarity with the Six Nations.

Anti-Racist Action (ARA) Toronto delegates arrived to support the reclamation and defense efforts just before noon. Throughout the year we've sent members to the reclamation site to assist in volunteer chores, and in defense solidarity as well. Today's event was called a "Potluck for Peace" by the Six Nations organizers, and was meant to be an event in opposition to the racist rally. After meeting with fellow anti-racists at reclamation site, the group went to survey the scene outside the barricades. The typical array of disaffected racist folks milled about, many donning Team Canada jerseys and hoisting Canadian flags on hockey sticks (a bit over the top). But even these few were outnumbered by the many onlookers, hoping to see the spectacle the media and McHale had promised them. Some were angry that outsiders like McHale were agitating in their community and leaving them to pick up the pieces (and associated costs). No small number vented their anger at McHale to the media.

The main racist march was soon spotted, numbering no more than 400 participants, heading for the back of the reclamation site in an attempt to sneak onto the Six Nations land, and have a provocative march through the area. ARA Toronto members split up, some to return to inform leaders at the reclamation site that the march was approaching, and the rest to keep an eye on things closer to the march. Barricades and police kept the racists back, but hundreds of Native and non-Native youth were ready on the other side, if the perimeter was breached in any way.

At the first sign of trouble, and his damaging instigation over, McHale beat a hasty and cowardly retreat leaving his erstwhile followers and the community to face the price. Racists who had been whipped into a frenzy by McHale approached police lines aggressively, leading to the arrest of 3 men for trying to force their way through and 2 women for intoxication.

After the confrontation at the police lines settled into a standoff, the crowd began to thin out quickly. People could be heard talking about their disappointment with McHale, and saying they'd be unlikely to heed such a call in the future.

One group trying to exploit the anger and frustration at the event were the neo-nazi boneheads of the Northern Alliance. Heeding the call of their white supremacist mentor Paul Fromm, Northern Alliance (a gang centred in London, ON) sent a squad of 10-12 goons to roam the crowd in full regalia, distributing photocopies of illegal hate material in the form of an article from a racist magazine. Unknowingly, the boneheads handed a copy of their propaganda to one of our supporters. The contents were as shocking as they were ridiculous, including rants about a "New World Order" and its "Jewish-produced brainwashing multicultural garbage", the dangers posed by "mud people" (their term of reference for non-whites), the benefits of "white power rock music" for youth, and how "white people need to awake" in order to save the future of "Aryan" children.

Meanwhile, anti-racists and labour and community activists from all walks of life were back at the occupation site, lending a voice of support to the Six Nations reclamation. The mood was festive as hundreds gathered for chats, laughter and great food. All the while, cars driving past on Argyle Street were honking their horns in support. This celebration of positive and constructive energy was in marked contrast to the anger and frustration of their racist opponents. It represented a recommitment to the just cause of those seeking to return the land to its true owners. Without McHale's provocation, many activists wouldn't have had the opportunity to renew their commitment and support before winter set in.

Although McHale sought to isolate the Six Nations, all he succeeded in doing was strengthening solidarity in the community, and making an ass of himself. ARA Toronto expresses our warm thanks and commitment to the people of the Six Nations, and again reiterate our continued support for their actions in the reclaiming what is rightfully theirs.

ˇAntifascismo para siempre!