Paul Fromm (activist)

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Frederick Paul Fromm (born January 3, 1949), known as Paul Fromm, is a Canadian neo-Nazi leader and activist.[1][2] He has been described by national media as "one of Canada's most notorious white supremacists".[3] Fromm's mother is of French Canadian descent and his father is of German Catholic background.[4] In the 1980s, he was married to Daryl Reside, who had been active in various far right groups.[5]

Contents

[edit] Political activism

In 1967, as a student at the University of Toronto's St. Michael's College, Paul Fromm co-founded the Edmund Burke Society with Don Andrews, Leigh Smith and Al Overfield; and also founded its student wing "Campus Alternative".[6] The Edmund Burke Society was a right-wing anti-communist group that agitated against prominent left-wing movements.

The group's main focus was opposition to the New Left and other left-wing tendencies that the Edmund Burke Society associated with communism. In 1970, the group disrupted a speech by William Kunstler, resulting in the Chicago Seven's lawyer drenching Fromm with a pitcher of water. A melee between Edmund Burke Society members and Kunstler's supporters ensued, and Fromm was knocked unconscious to the floor.[7]

As the far left movement waned, Edmund Burke Society members turned their attention to issues of race and immigration and became increasingly attracted to white supremacist theories. In February 1972, the group renamed itself the Western Guard.[7] Three months later, Fromm was the opening speaker at a Western Guard banquet honouring Robert Miles, a former Ku Klux Klan leader who became a leading ideologue in the Christian Identity movement.[6] Fromm led a successful attempt by the Western Guard to take over the Ontario wing of the Social Credit Party of Canada. This led Social Credit leader Ernest Manning to place the Ontario organization under trusteeship, in order to counter Fromm's activities.[8][9] Fromm, Overfield and several others resigned from the Western Guard in May 1972, immediately after the Toronto Sun published an article on the group, which included information about the banquet. Fromm's departure left the leadership of the Western Guard in the hands of Don Andrews.[6]

Fromm graduated from university with an education degree, and worked as a school teacher with the Peel Region Board of Education from 1974 until his dismissal in 1997. He temporarily tried to distance himself from groups that were visibly linked to explicitly racist and neo-Nazi beliefs. He founded "Countdown", which led to the creation of three organizations that attempted to make far-right views palatable to the mainstream. Fromm was elected as a Catholic school trustee, serving on the Metro Toronto Separate School Board from 1976 to 1978.[4]

In 1979, he founded Citizens for Foreign Aid Reform (C-FAR), which opposes foreign aid to Third World nations. The organization also deals with other issues, including crime and punishment, multiculturalism and immigration. It sponsors lectures by far right individuals and publishes pamphlets and books, mostly about race and immigration.[10] In 1980, Fromm founded Canadian Association for Free Expression (CAFE), in opposition to the Canadian Human Rights Commission. CAFE has been active defending the rights of accused anti-Semites, racists and Holocaust deniers against prosecution under hate crime and human rights legislation.[10] Another group he founded was Canada First Immigration Reform Committee, which advocates reduced immigration, and opposes immigration by non-whites. These three groups still exist today and are still led by Fromm. Their membership and mandates overlap, and they are essentially a single organization. Fromm's leadership of these groups has given him some access to the mainstream media, such as radio talk shows and newspapers.[10]

In the late 1970s, Fromm also founded Canadian Friends of Rhodesia to support the white minority rule regime of Ian Smith and his Rhodesian Front. In the mid to late 1980s, Fromm's organizations were involved in advocacy on behalf of South Africa's apartheid regime, and opposing the movement to impose economic sanctions on the country.[5]

[edit] Involvement in mainstream politics

In 1976, Fromm was elected to the Metro Toronto Separate School Board. He was defeated in his 1978 attempt to win re-election.

Fromm attempted to enter mainstream political activity by joining the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. He was elected treasurer of PC Metro, a network of 31 Toronto PC riding associations on April 15, 1981.[11] He angered many people and embarrassed both the federal and Ontario Progressive Conservatives when a profile in the Globe and Mail quoted him as saying that breeding a "supreme race" for intelligence was a good idea, and as calling for Vietnamese refugees to be sent to "desert islands" off the Philippines and Indonesia rather than be accepted into Canada where they would "upset the racial balance".[4][12]

His comments resulted in Progressive Conservative premier William Davis being asked in the legislature whether he is willing "to tolerate such neo-fascist, if not fascist, ideas within the Conservative Party."[11] Federal Progressive Conservative immigration critic Chris Speyer said Fromm's remarks were "entirely his and certainly don't represent the views of the party or the caucus."[11] Federal PC president Peter Blaikie asked Fromm to resign from the local executive, telling the press on April 30, 1981: "It's quite clear that that article, accurate or inaccurate, sets out a position which is clearly at variance with that of the party," and that the issue "has created some difficulty and embarrassment for the party."[13]

In 1983, Fromm was an active support of right-wing Member of Parliament John A. Gamble's unsuccessful bid to win the leadership of the federal Progressive Conservatives.[14] Fromm's work with Gamble continued beyond his unsuccessful leadership bid, and included work in the World Anti-Communist League.[5] In 1993, Gamble was rejected as a candidate for the Reform Party of Canada because of his long association with Fromm and other racist activists.[15][16]

In the late 1980s, Fromm was an active member of the Reform Party of Canada, but was essentially expelled in October 1988 when leader Preston Manning sent Fromm a letter asking him to "dissociate" himself from the party, following complaints by party members about the racist tenor of a speech Fromm made at a Reform Party gathering.[17] In the 1988 federal election, Fromm ran as a candidate for the Confederation of Regions Party in the riding of Mississauga East, receiving 288 votes.[18]

In 1997, he was a candidate for the public school board in Peel Region, receiving 827 votes (10.39% of ballots cast); coming in last of four candidates. His name was the first on the ballot, which may have increased his vote total due to the primacy effect in a four-way contest amongst independents.[19]

[edit] Open links to fascists

In the 1990s, Fromm spoke at several Heritage Front events, including a celebration of Adolf Hitler's birthday.[20] A video surfaced of him addressing rally and referring to Canadian fascist John Ross Taylor as a "hero".[20] Taylor was one of two Canadian Nazis interned by the government during World War II. The video shows Fromm standing beside a Nazi flag during the Heritage Front's "Martyr's Day". The rally included shouts from the audience of "Sieg Heil!", "white power", "Hail The Order!" and "nigger, nigger, nigger, out out out".[6] Fromm, a high school English teacher at the time, was reprimanded by the school board after videos of him speaking at white supremacist rallies, including a celebration of Adolf Hitler's birthday, surfaced in 1992.[21] He was transferred to an adult education centre by the board in 1993 pending the outcome of an investigation into his activities and then fired by the school board in 1997.[22][20]

In 2000, a published report alleged that developer Martin Weiche, a former leader of the Canadian Nazi Party, was one of Fromm's major financial backers.[23] Fromm has shared a stage with Holocaust denier David Irving, and has organized rallies in support of Holocaust denier Ernst Zündel.[10] B'nai Brith legal counsel Anita Bromberg has said "Fromm is the one who has put himself out there most directly as supporting Zundel. He looks as though he's waiting in the wings."[10] In 2004, Fromm was associated with David Duke's efforts to unite white nationalists with the New Orleans Protocol.

In January 2005, Fromm defended himself at a disciplinary hearing of the Ontario College of Teachers against charges including "failure to maintain professional standards; not complying with college regulations and bylaws; disgraceful, dishonourable, unprofessional and/or unbecoming conduct; and practising while in a conflict of interest."[24][20] Following three days of hearings, further deliberation were postponed. The hearing resumed in the spring of 2007[20] and on October 31, 2007, the college rendered its ruling stripping Fromm of his license to teach in the province of Ontario.[22]

Fromm has acted as an advocate for far right activists who have been called before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT). Among those Fromm has represented is Glenn Bahr, the co-founder and former leader of Western Canada For Us, and Terry Tremaine, a former University of Saskatchewan mathematics lecturer.[25] In 2006, he represented the Canadian Heritage Alliance at a CHRT hearing in Toronto, and supported John Beck of the group BC White Pride at a CHRT hearing in Penticton, British Columbia.[26] Fromm has been described as a mentor to younger "far-right extremists" such as Melissa Guille and Jason Ouwendyk[10] and as a "'senior player' in the neo-Nazi movement in Canada."[27] He identifies himself as an advocate for "white nationalists"[3].

[edit] Public opposition

Fromm has experienced a significant amount of public opposition. His Alternative Forum meetings have been the targets of protests, and have been disrupted and occasionally shut down by protesters.[citation needed]

On August 19, 2006, Fromm's Port Credit, Ontario home was besieged by dozens of anti-fascist youths, who surrounded the townhouse; challenging Fromm to come outside. Although he reportedly remained locked inside an upstairs washroom, approximately half a dozen neo-Nazis were present outside his home. Over 50 police officers were on call to protect Fromm and his supporters. The area was plastered in flyers advertising Fromm's home address and far-right political affiliations. The protest ended without incident.[1]

On his way to an April 19, 2007 Ontario College of Teachers hearing into his conduct, Fromm was in a scuffle with Jewish Defense League (JDL) members in an elevator. Protesters claimed that Fromm shoved them, but Fromm asserts that the JDL members lunged at him. Police arrested two protesters, charging them with assault, assault police and obstructing.[20]

In October 2007, the Canadian House of Commons unanimously passed a resolution banning Fromm and Alexan Kulbashian from the Canadian Parliament buildings after they attempted to hold a press conference in the parliamentary press theatre. The resolution read: "That this House order that Alexan Kulbashian and Paul Fromm be denied admittance to the precincts of the House of Commons during the present session to preserve the dignity and integrity of the House."[28][29][30]

[edit] Libel case

Fromm and his Canadian Association for Free Expression were sued by Ottawa lawyer Richard Warman for libeling the anti-racist activist in various online posts. On November 23, 2007, Ontario Superior Court Justice Monique Métivier ruled in Warman's favour ordering Fromm to pay Warman a total of $30,000 in damages and to post full retractions on all the websites on which he posted the defamatory comments within 10 days. Métivier found that Fromm posted statements about Warman "either knowing the fundamental falseness of the accusations he levelled at Mr. Warman, or being reckless as to the truth of these."[31]

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Pona, Natalie. "Protesters target neo-Nazi's home", Toronto Sun, August 20, 2006.
  2. ^ "Paul Fromm, former Peel Board teacher, known for his prominence on the neo-Nazi speaking circuit", Antisemitism and Racism 1997: Canada, Stephen Roth Institute. Retrieved April 19, 2007.
  3. ^ a b McIntyre, Mike. "Children seized over neo-Nazi allegations", National Post, June 10, 2008.
  4. ^ a b c McLaren, Christie. "Edmund Burke society founder Tory official backs idea of supreme race", The Globe and Mail, April 28, 1981.
  5. ^ a b c Caplan, Gerald. "In order to maintain its continuing control in South Africa, the Botha government believes it is essential to maintain current economic and diplomatic support from abroad", Toronto Star, May 18, 1988.
  6. ^ a b c d Farber, Bernie and Prutschi, Manuel. "Paul Fromm" in From Marches to Modems: A Report on Organized Hate in Metro Toronto, Canadian Jewish Congress, 1997, pp. 16-26.
  7. ^ a b Johnson, Arthur. "Portrait of a racist", The Globe and Mail, October 1, 1979.
  8. ^ Security Intelligence Review Committee, The Heritage Front Affair: Report to the Solicitor General of Canada, section 7.1, December 9, 1994.
  9. ^ The League for Human Rights of B'nai Brith Canada, The Heritage Front: Into the mainstrem, 1994
  10. ^ a b c d e f Shulgan, Christopher. "Will he be the next Zundel? With Canada's best-known supremacist deported, former teacher Paul Fromm is working to revive the far-right movement", The Globe and Mail, March 5, 2005.
  11. ^ a b c "Federal PCs deny link to remarks by party official on immigration", The Globe and Mail, April 29, 1981.
  12. ^ Shallit, Jeffrey, The Shallit Report: Lies of Our Times
  13. ^ McLaren, Christie. "Globe quoted racist views Fromm resigns Metro PC post at request of national office", The Globe and Mail, May 1, 1981.
  14. ^ Martin, Lawrence. "Hard-liner Gamble enters Tory race", The Globe and Mail, March 7, 1983.
  15. ^ Desmond, Bill, "Local Reform party stands by candidate", Toronto Star, April 14, 1993
  16. ^ Small, Peter. "Reform party rejects former MP as candidate, Toronto Star, April 4, 1993.
  17. ^ Security Intelligence Review Committee, The Heritage Front Affair Report to the Solicitor General of Canada, Section 7.7, December 9, 1994
  18. ^ Paliament of Canada website, History of Federal Ridings since 1867: MISSISSAUGA EAST (1988/11/21)
  19. ^ Koppell, Jonathan and Steen, Jennifer A.,"The Effects of Ballot Position on Election Outcomes", The Journal of Politics Volume 66 Issue 1 Page 267-281, February 2004
  20. ^ a b c d e f Mahoney, Jill. "Activists confront controversial educator: Demonstrators charged as scuffle erupts over ex-teacher tied to white supremacists", The Globe and Mail, April 20, 2007.
  21. ^ Rashowy, Kristin, "College revokes extremist's licence to teach in Ontario", Toronto Star, November 10, 2007
  22. ^ a b Bell, Stewart, "Teacher censured for racist actions," National Post, November 10, 2007
  23. ^ DiMatteo, Enzo. "The two faces of Paul Fromm", NOW,December 14-20, 2000.
  24. ^ Ferenc, Leslie. "On trial for political views, ex-teacher says; Fired for alleged links to white supremacists Now faces charges from profession's governing body", Toronto Star, January 26, 2005.
  25. ^ League for Human Rights of B'nai Brith Canada, 2005 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents
  26. ^ "B.C. Human Rights Tribunal hears arguments over `White Pride' website", Canadian Press, April 12, 2006
  27. ^ Clarkson, Brett, "Teacher finally tossed: racist loses credentials", Toronto Sun, November 10, 2007
  28. ^ "Commons vote to ban news conference by right-wing activists questioned", Canadian Press, October 18, 2007
  29. ^ MPs unite to ban 2 speakers from Parliament Buildings, CBC News, October 18, 2007
  30. ^ "MPs pass all-party motion banning Zundel's legal representative from Hill", National Post, page A5, October 18, 2007
  31. ^ Don Butler, "Anti-racism activist wins libel judgment", Ottawa Citizen, November 24, 2007

[edit] External links