More than 100 individuals gathered outside Hamilton city hall on Saturday afternoon to protest against a self-proclaimed nationalist organization advocating for the deportation of millions of people from Canada. The Hope Not Hate rally aimed to oppose racism and bigotry in response to the Dominion Society’s scheduled conference in the city.
Karen Goodfellow, who traveled from Toronto to Hamilton to show solidarity, emphasized the importance of speaking out against white supremacy and contacting politicians. Labor organizer Ritch Whyman highlighted the unity among working-class individuals in the city, affirming that they stand together.
Vivyan Salih, an employee at the Immigrants Working Centre, described Hamilton as a welcoming community. The rally occurred as the city awaited confirmation on whether the Dominion Society would proceed with its conference, which faced venue cancellations from two locations.
Local groups, including the Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre and Mayor Andrea Horwath, urged venues to consider the impact of hosting the event due to its divisive nature. The police also cautioned against the negative consequences of the Dominion Society’s gathering, leading to accusations of an abuse of power by the organization.
The Dominion Society intended to feature Canadian and international speakers at the conference, including far-right figure Martin Sellner, who was prohibited from entering Canada. Various organizations commended the actions taken against Sellner, emphasizing the rejection of hate and intolerance within Canadian society.
Evan Balgord of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network highlighted the Dominion Society’s agenda, pointing out their promotion of Canadian nationalism and immigration reform while advocating for the deportation of millions of individuals. The group also endorsed the “great replacement” conspiracy theory, suggesting a replacement of white individuals by racialized groups.
Community groups in Hamilton signed an open letter urging businesses not to support the Dominion Society and called on elected officials to denounce the group’s ideology. MP Aslam Rana condemned the group’s extremist views, emphasizing the need to prevent divisive and hateful events that could escalate tensions in the community.
Concerns arose that the Dominion Society might relocate its conference to the neighboring Niagara Region, prompting local authorities to denounce hate-based events and reaffirm their commitment to inclusivity and unity. Officials across various municipalities expressed their opposition to hosting such groups, asserting their right to condemn divisive ideologies that contradict community values.