George Burdi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

George Burdi, also known as George Eric Hawthorne (born 1970), is a Canadian citizen of Armenian descent[1] who became infamous as the leader of the Canadian branch of Church of the Creator, a white supremacist organization, which formed an allegiance with the now-defunct neo-nazi organization Heritage Front. In addition, Burdi was involved directly in the white power music scene. Burdi was subsequently convicted under the Canadian Criminal Code for assault causing bodily harm, receiving a one year prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, Burdi renounced racism and formed an ethnically mixed music group.

Contents

[edit] Background

Burdi came into contact with the white supremacist movement through the father of his then-girlfriend. He became an active white supremacist at the age of 18 and by the age of 21 was the leader of the Canadian branch of the 'Church of the Creator'.

[edit] RaHoWa

RaHoWa
RaHoWa

Using the pseudonym "Reverend George Eric Hawthorne" in honour of the novelist, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Burdi formed the racist skinhead band RaHoWa in 1989. The band's name was derived from the phrase Racial Holy War. RaHoWa was the single largest hate-rock band throughout the 1990s, and is still respected in some white power groups.

Burdi was the founding president of Resistance Records, which was the distributor for his band and other white supremacist bands. The company also operated a web site and a magazine. It was one of the pre-eminent white-power record producers, selling nearly 100,000 records in its ten years, as well as publishing a quarterly Resistance Magazine which covered the white power music scene.

[edit] Downfall

In Ottawa, on May 29, 1993, after a RaHoWa band concert which was picketed by Anti-Racist Action protesters, Burdi and the leader of the Neo-Nazi Heritage Front, Wolfgang Droege, led their supporters on a march to Parliament Hill and eventually to the front of the Château Laurier hotel. As the white supremacists marched, they chanted sieg heil, made racist remarks, and gave Nazi salutes. Burdi directed the group and gave media interviews.

At Parliament Hill, Burdi and Droege passionately addressed their followers with the express purpose of trying to raise the emotional pitch of the evening. Burdi then led the white supremacists to the Chateau Laurier. Once there, he led his followers on an angry charge across the street to attack the anti-racist demonstrators.

One of the victims of that charge was the young female complainant, Alicia Reckzin, 22 years of age, who was struck on the head while running from Burdi's supporters. When she fell, she was kicked several times on her right side. She saw Burdi kick her in the face and heard him say, "This is the cunt that started the whole thing." As a result of the assault, Reckzin suffered a broken nose, temporarily lost consciousness, and had memory problems for weeks.

In 1995, as a result of the violent confrontation, George Burdi was convicted of assault causing bodily harm and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. Burdi appealed both his conviction and the sentence, but on February 14, 1997, the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld the lower court's 1995 decision (O.J. No. 554 No. C21788/C21820).

In 1997, police raided Burdi's personal residence and the Resistance Records offices. Burdi was charged with "willfully promoting hatred;" he plead guilty to a lesser charge and spent no time in prison.

In 2001, Burdi sold Resistance Records to Willis Carto and left the white power movement due to disillusionment. Willis Carto in turn sold the company to William Luther Pierce of the National Alliance for $250,000.

[edit] Renouncement of Racism

Burdi has publicly stated that he has renounced white supremacism and is currently a member of a multi-racial band called Novacosm. He has an Indian wife of Brahmin heritage and is deeply involved with eastern spiritualism.

[edit] Quotes

"Once a comrade, still your friend."

"I have never contended that race is meaningless."

"I must give credit where credit is due, and say that many WNs I have known in my life have been some of the most cultured and educated people that I have met. During any post where I have criticised people motivated by "hate", I have always conceded that there are many anti-racists similarly motivated."

-George Burdi to Stormfront

[edit] References

  1. ^ Web of Hate: Inside Canada's Far Right Network by Warren Kinsella (1997) ISBN 0-00-638051-4

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../g/e/o/George_Burdi_ded5.html"