In order to fit the space available, my Feb. 5 article on this topic in the Winnipeg Free Press was edited to fit the space available in the print edition. Find the full article below, followed by the statements issued by faith groups in Winnipeg about the use of hate symbols at the trucker's convoy.
A prominent local pastor has thrown his support behind the trucker’s convoy, currently occupying streets in Ottawa.
Leon Fontaine, senior pastor of Spring’s Church, released a statement about the convoy on January 28 on the Facebook page of the Miracle Channel, a Christian TV station in Lethbridge, Alberta, of which he is also CEO.
“This trucker’s convoy has exploded,” he said in a video message, adding “people, regular Canadians, pouring into the streets to support their fellow citizens, actively exercising their rights to peacefully protest. Wow! That’s encouraging, to say the least.”
He went on to say “If you’ve ever felt the last two years has been an absolute vacuum of common sense and reason, the sheer number of donations and the speed at which this thing has been galvanized, just proved that you are not alone.
“I think this trucker’s convoy is sending a much deeper message. It’s awakened in people this thought: If we’re all in this together was simply a lip service line from elites during COVID, boy, Ottawa is about to see what ‘we’re in this together’ really looks like.”
In a printed statement on that page, he added: “I will be praying for this movement and that it remains a positive force. I will continue to pray for our leaders. Pray for change. Pray for reason to prevail.”
In addition to his messages of support, Fontaine sent a news crew to Ottawa because he wondered if Canadians are “getting the whole story.”
He went on to say “I don’t agree with how this convoy is being betrayed by mainstream media. It’s divisive. This video from our crew on the ground proves otherwise. This movement is for all Canadians no matter race, religion or culture.”
Fontaine acknowledged there were “a few individuals tainting the main message” of the convoy in Ottawa. “I do not agree with this behaviour but my crew there says this does not reflect the majority of these peaceful protestors.”
Calls for additional comments about Fontaine’s support for the convoy were not returned by Spring’s Church, which is separate from the Miracle Channel, or from the Miracle Channel itself.
Three other local evangelical pastors also weighed in, under condition of anonymity.
The convoy "is an amalgam of various people and groups coming together to express their frustration two years of government overreach," they said in an e-mail, acknowledging there have been "small elements of unseemly behaviour."
That has made the convoy "an easy target for those who are unwilling to show some empathy and religious compassion for the people who are understandably upset about losing their livelihoods . . . in the name of tolerance, Canada has become an increasingly intolerant country."
The faith response should not be to join in the chorus of inflammatory language and disparage those who think we should be on the other side of this issue," they added. Our job should be to invoke empathy and understanding, to respond kindly and positively while trying to lower the temperature."
Other faith groups have also spoken out about the convoy.
In a statement, the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg said: “Across Canada, including here in Winnipeg, a small minority of individuals have shamefully used Nazi symbols, the Confederate flag, and misappropriated the Star of David as part of their protests.
“The Nazi flag is an emblem of evil. It has no place at a public protest in Canada, or anywhere else. We condemn the actions of those who are employing these symbols to advance their political objectives.”
Shahina Siddiqui of the Islamic Social Services Association said: “This recent blatant show of hate should wake all of us to the threat this hate poses to our social harmony.”
Added the Manitoba Multifaith Council: “The use of the Nazi flags, the swastikas, the yellow star at the truck convoy protesting the current health measures make an absolute mockery of the experiences of the victims of the Nazis and of all those murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators.
“The Confederate flags and the appropriation of the “Every Child Matters” slogan further illustrate the depths to which some of the participants in the convoy will stoop . . . The organizers have a responsibility to condemn these hateful symbols. All people of faith or no faith should be standing up to oppose these worrisome developments.”
Statements about the trucker’s convoy
For my Feb. 5 article in the Winnipeg Free Press about how the pastor of Springs Church is supporting the trucker’s convoy, I also asked other faith groups to share their statements. I didn’t have enough room for them all. Find them below.
Manitoba Northwestern Ontario Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada & the Diocese of Rupert’s Land, Anglican Church of Canada
Over the past number of days, we have seen people from across our country exercise their right to gather and protest what they believe to be unjust laws. We fully support that right and encourage people to speak up when they believe something is unjust.
However, we also stand with many across the Christian Church and other faith traditions in unequivocally denouncing the symbols, words, and actions of white nationalism being expressed in Ottawa and across the country during these rallies. There is no place in our faith traditions to promote anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, or racism.
Our faith demands that we call out injustice. However, our response can never be a further display of intolerance and hate at the expense of others. We cannot support groups that have an underlying ideology of racism and white supremacy. As Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church: “Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 2:4-5)
To those who feel compelled to protest vaccination mandates, we support your right to do so. But please let your protest be about healthcare mandates. Do not give power or a platform to those who promote division and intolerance masquerading as ‘freedom.’
We are calling on each member of MNO Synod and Diocese of Rupert’s Land congregations to remember that in all things we follow God who calls us to love everyone across all expressions of race, religion, gender, and ability.
Manitoba Multifaith Council
The use of the Nazi flags, the swastikas, the yellow star at the truck convoy protesting the current health measures make an absolute mockery of the experiences of the victims of the Nazis and of all those murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators: six million Jews, including a million and a half children, the Roma, who were also targeted for genocide, the mentally and physically disabled, Slavs, gay men, Jehovah’s Witnesses, political opponents, and some “dissident” members of the clergy. All because they did not fit the worldview of the Nazis and their collaborators.
The Confederate flags and the appropriation of the “Every Child Matters” slogan further illustrate the depths to which some of the participants in the convoy will stoop. With that, there have been many memes, messages, and conspiracy theories that are clearly affiliated with the white supremacist movement. Then of course, there is the desecration of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier – a symbol of the sacrifices made so that we may live in freedom, and the memorial to Terry Fox. All this, two days after International Holocaust Remembrance Day and on the anniversary of the murderous attack on the mosque in Quebec City. The organizers have a responsibility to condemn these hateful symbols. All people of faith or no faith should be standing up to oppose these worrisome developments.
Jewish Federation of Winnipeg
Across Canada, including here in Winnipeg, a small minority of individuals have shamefully used Nazi symbols, the Confederate flag, and misappropriated the Star of David as part of their protests.
The Nazi flag is an emblem of evil. It has no place at a public protest in Canada, or anywhere else. We condemn the actions of those who are employing these symbols to advance their political objectives.
Shahina Siddiqui, Islamic Social Services Association
This recent blatant show of hate should wake all of us, to the threat this hate poses to our social harmony, none of us are safe from the fire of hate and if we do not stand together as one against this vile rhetoric none of us will be spared.
Tanis Moore, Sensei, Manitoba Buddhist Temple
Buddhism teaches us about peace, compassion, harmony, and equality. Right Speech and Right Action are two teachings from the Eightfold Path, which helps us to alleviate suffering and discontent. Right Action is to see that our deeds are peaceable, benevolent, compassionate and pure; and Right Speech asks us to refrain from harmful talk, and to speak kindly to all. These two teachings state that words and acts of hatred, racism and inequality are not to be condoned.
We do believe that people have the right to protest non-violently (and properly informed) about issues that support those in suffering and need; however, in this situation we are seeing people being harmed through bigoted imagery, hurtful words and actions causing fear and trauma. There are better ways to constructively acknowledge and discuss their frustrations without creating an atmosphere of hatred and anger.
We know that people in general are frustrated during this pandemic time; however, we have also seen the wonderful good and helpful deeds people are doing to assist those in need; let us not forget our true nature as compassionate, caring, loving human beings.
Mennonite Church Canada
As leaders within Mennonite Church Canada, we unequivocally denounce the symbols, words and actions of white nationalism being expressed in Ottawa and across the country.
While we support the right of people to gather peacefully in protest of government laws perceived to be unjust, we cannot support any action that promotes antisemitism, Islamophobia or racism. Jesus calls us to love our neighbours as ourselves as an expression of our love for God across categories of race, ethnicity, religion and gender.
Michael Wilson, Minister, Charleswood United Church
The accounts of harassment and abuse at a
homeless shelter, and the failure of protesters and their supporters to condemn
it, says it all. To paraphrase Paul, without love we gain nothing.
This display of apathy for the common good, and
this expression of anger that leads to hatred should and will amount to
nothing.
From three Winnipeg evangelical pastors (who requested anonymity)
The convoy is not a monolithic unified movement. It is an amalgam of various people and groups coming together to express their frustration for two years of government overreach. There have certainly been small elements of unseemly behaviour. The protestors who are displaying confederate flags, swastikas and unkind slogans are a fair target of criticism and condemnation as they taint the entire group. This in most unfortunate as they are not officially representing what the protest is about at all.
Because of this, the protest has become an easy target for those that are unwilling to show some empathy (and religious compassion) for the people who are understandably upset about losing their livelihoods. The vast majority of the protestors are not white supremist, racists or Nazis. They are blue collar workers trying to have their voices heard in a political and cultural environment that now shuts down not only dissent, but the free exchange of ideas in the public square. In the name of tolerance, Canada has become a profoundly intolerant country. Our own PM (and many others) regularly insults and reproaches not only the protestors, but other sincere people who have their own reasons to refuse forced medical intervention (vaccine or vaccine mandate).
It should deeply concern all Canadians that our civil liberties have been suspended without parliamentary debate and consensus, and that the unprecedented vaccine mandates strip Canadians of their right to work and make a living. Two years ago, all Canadians would have considered this unthinkable. All politicians, including the PM called vaccine mandates unfair, unconstitutional and unacceptable just a year ago. The Overton Window has shifted dramatically over the course of the pandemic.
The nation has become deeply divided and it continues to get worse. The faith response should not be to join in the chorus of inflammatory language and disparage those who we think might be on the other side of this issue. Our job should be to invoke empathy and understanding, to respond kindly and positively while trying to lower the temperature. Sometimes we forget that irrespective of our position, we are all in this thing together. And when it is over they will not remember our position, only our behaviour.
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