Hamilton’s mayor and council candidates are standing up against hate in response to a white nationalist group’s targeting of Ward 14 councillor candidate Kojo Damptey on social media. Damptey, in a statement released on Thursday, expressed concern over the actions of “neo-Nazi and white-supremacist fight club” Nationalist-13, which called for his deportation. He emphasized the importance of community and public safety, stating that every resident in Hamilton deserves to feel safe without facing threats or hateful acts.
CBC Hamilton observed a comment from an Instagram account identifying as Nationalist-13, threatening to ban Damptey from running for office across Canada once the group gains power. Nationalist-13, also known as NS13, is among several active white nationalist groups in the city and region. The group, characterized as an active club promoting white supremacist ideals, has been increasingly public, organizing anti-immigration protests and displaying banners advocating for “mass deportations.”
Damptey condemned the demonstrations by Nationalist-13 as “extremely hateful” and called for current elected leaders, residents, and fellow candidates to denounce such acts of intimidation. He asserted his right as a Canadian citizen to participate in elections without fear of discrimination.
Other candidates, including incumbent mayor Andrea Horwath, Scarlett Gillespie, and Keanin Loomis, expressed solidarity with Damptey and condemned white supremacy and racism. Current councillors running for re-election also showed support for Damptey, emphasizing the need for unity and safety for all residents in Hamilton.
This is not the first instance of Damptey being targeted by white nationalist messaging, as a similar incident occurred during the 2022 election campaign. Authorities investigated the previous incident as a hate crime, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by candidates like Damptey in combating hate and discrimination.