‘Even idiots have the right to protest’: London veterans decry anti-immigrant messaging from white nationalist demonstrators

London veterans are weighing in after a group of white nationalists were seen demonstrating in London over the weekend. CTV London’s Bryan Bicknell reports.

Retired Lt. Col. Ian Haley of London, Ontario says when he learned of a white nationalist group demonstrating in London this past weekend, he was decidedly unimpressed.

“Even idiots have the right to protest. Should they go beyond that, then we have democratic courts. Those who portrayed Nazi views probably would not have been treated as kindly protesting against the government of Nazi Germany in their time, which they probably don’t realize,” said Haley.

He was speaking of the group Second Sons.

Dashcam footage taken Sunday around noon along the Horton Street underpass appears to show a group of about 30 people dressed in dark uniforms and masks. They were standing in formation on the Wortley Road bridge, holding a banner that read ‘REMIGRATION NOW.’

“This fascist type of demonstration is a selfish, selfish way of trying to live your life,” said Brian Harris, also a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Canadian Forces. He said the group’s members are misguided.

“The only people who aren’t really immigrants to this country are the Indigenous people. Everyone else is an immigrant, or the children of immigrants that have come to this country.”

Sunday’s demonstration only lasted about 20 minutes according to the London Police Service.

Brief but provocative, it comes at a time when the white nationalist movement is reportedly the largest it has ever been in Canada – that’s according to the Canadian Anti-Hate Network.

The network’s executive director, Evan Balgord, said Second Sons and its agenda is not to be taken lightly.

“They are preparing for what they see as the necessary use of violence to protect their political movement, and attack their opposition, and ultimately carry out what their agenda is, which is ethnic cleansing in Canada,” Balgord explained.

“The leaders talk about how they want to enact mass deportations of people who aren’t white and European.”

The group is not without supporters.

A social media post celebrating the London demonstration has garnered hundreds of comments, including:

“Keep up the good fight boys…” wrote Robin.

“Thank you sons we need you badly!” Rose wrote.

“Gives me hope that Canada can be saved!” Pat said.

CTV News reached out to Second Sons with an interview request but had not received a response before publication deadline.