It is with some degree of astonishment that the CBC has recently provided a couple of reports about a white supremacist neo-Nazi group organizing demonstrations in London, Ontario. This is noteworthy because the group seems to be fashioning itself on demonstrations that have plagued the country for the past two years, but are most egregious in large cities. The group assembled on an overpass, but did not stay long enough to get a coffee delivery from the local police. The irony seems to be lost on the CBC and others. It would be laughable if it were not so upsetting and serious.

We all share an abhorrence of racists, but the alarm voiced by some folks in London about feeling unsafe is something Jewish citizens have been saying for a long time. But the few who complained in London were heard by the OPP and RCMP right off the bat. Jewish citizens have been under attack in their homes, schools, synagogues, businesses, universities, and on the streets. Our calls for action have been met with bromides, a little superficial empathy, and a police service that seems uncertain or reluctant to help, except to cordon off public areas to ensure that things don’t escalate. It has been a costly exercise as private groups require protection and additional policing just to carry on in day-to-day functions. The public purse has been affected too, of course, as police forces are used to monitor the demonstrations........

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