Residents residing in a Kitchener, Ont. neighbourhood say it was unsettling to see a Nazi flag flying at a house on their road.
“As far as I’m concerned, disgusting,” stated neighbour Sharon Lamers. “There are a lot of bad memories to it. My family’s German. I’m a first-generation Canadian and it has no place here. Especially as a lot of Germans immigrated here and that’s not what they wanted to bring with them.”
The Nazi navy flag was seen Monday exterior a home on Stirling Avenue South.
Marshall, who driving by, couldn’t imagine it when he first noticed the Nazi image.
“[It] surprised me,” he defined. “So I did a turn-around. When I confirmed what it was, I took some pictures and immediately called police.”
The Waterloo Regional Police Service stated they acquired a number of studies from the group.
“[Officers] did respond to the residence and attempted to speak with the resident,” stated Const. Chris Iden, a WRPS public info officer. “[They were], however, unsuccessful. An investigation was commenced with support from the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Unit.”
The flag has since been eliminated however police aren’t positive who took it down.
“There has been no communication with the individual [living at the home],” Iden stated.
additionally tried to talk with them however when our reporter knocked on the door there was no reply.
Police stated there’s not a lot else they will do.
“We recognize that individuals have the right to freedom of expression under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” stated Iden. “However, offensive expression rooted in hatred has no place in the region.”
Police nonetheless wish to converse with the resident.
“We welcome any open door communication with the individual,” Iden stated.
Neighbours, in the meantime, are hoping they don’t see the flag once more.
“It has no place here,” stated Lamers. “I’m glad it’s down and hopefully they don’t put it back up.”
“I felt that it was very disrespectful to the neighbourhood and to Kitchener itself,” defined Marshall. “Flying that flag can cause undue trauma to certain groups.”
When he shared the pictures on-line he was upset to see individuals defending the flag.
“People are either uneducated or just ignorant in general,” Marshall stated. “All the people that did support [those of us that reported it], I thank them because that’s what makes this community special.”
– With reporting by Colton Wiens
