OTTAWA — An Ottawa man pleaded not responsible on Monday to charges of terrorism and hate speech associated to the promotion of a far-right group.
The RCMP charged Patrick Gordon Macdonald in July 2023, alleging he took half in actions of a listed terrorist group.
It’s the primary case in Canada the place the federal government laid charges for each terrorism and hate propaganda in opposition to somebody for selling a violent, far-right ideology.
Macdonald appeared in an Ottawa courthouse Monday and sat quietly within the aisle seat of the front-row bench, solely standing briefly to disclaim all three charges in opposition to him.
Because the trial opened in Ontario’s Superior Courtroom of Justice, Crown prosecutors alleged Macdonald helped produce propaganda for the Atomwaffen Division.
Public Security Canada listed Atomwaffen as a terrorist group in 2021, describing them as a world neo-Nazi group.
Prosecutors alleged Macdonald aided within the manufacturing of three propaganda movies that have been designed to recruit new members and incite hatred in opposition to Jews. Police allege he operated on-line beneath the alias “Darkish Foreigner,” an account that was lively on Iron March, a now-defunct far-right social media web site the place the Atomwaffen group had emerged. That on-line consumer account made graphic designs for Atomwaffen, based on the U.S.-based Southern Poverty Legislation Centre.
Macdonald entered the general public eye in 2021 when Vice Media recognized him by confidential sources because the poster going by the “Darkish Foreigner” moniker.
Many of the day Monday, the trial handled opaque procedural issues. It’s set to renew Tuesday.
The allegations haven’t but been confirmed in court docket.
This report by Ontario Chronicle was first revealed Nov. 18, 2024.
Kyle Duggan, Ontario Chronicle
