NEWTON — A former white supremacist will address an anti-racism forum in Newton on Wednesday evening (April 19).
Vancouver’s Tony McAleer, a former organizer for the White Aryan Resistance (WAR) and now the executive director of Life After Hate, is a guest speaker at the annual Kids Play Foundation event, to be held at Taj Park Convention Centre from 6 to 8 p.m.
Organizers say the focus of the event is on “understanding the rise of the alt-right movement and learning strategies to promote intercultural harmony.”
More than 800 people are expected to attend the forum, according to Kal Dosanjh, founder of Kids Play Foundation.
“We have seen a significant rise in alt-right movement globally, and we are not immune to it here in Metro Vancouver” Dosanjh stated. “We feel taking a deeper look at this issue is important.”
The McAleer-led Life After Hate group was created in 2009 by former members of the American violent far-right extremist movement, according to the About Us section of its website, Lifeafterhate.org.
“Through powerful stories of transformation and unique insight gleaned from decades of experience, we serve to inspire, educate, guide and counsel.”
McAleer once served as a skinhead recruiter and also managed the racist rock band Odin’s Law.
Other speakers at Wednesday’s event include sociologist Indira Prahst, CrimeStoppers’ Sim Sidhu and Harinder Mahil, former chief commissioner of the former BC Human Rights Commission. Youth will have an opportunity to discuss and share their experiences with each of the speakers.
Taj Park Convention Centre is located at 8580 132nd St., Surrey.
tom.zillich@thenownewspaper.com
