George Burdi, also known as George Eric Hawthorne (born 1970), is a Canadian musician who initially became known for his role in White nationalist organizations. He led the Canadian branch of the World Church of the Creator, which formed an allegiance with the now-defunct nationalist organization Heritage Front. In addition, Burdi was involved directly in the white power music scene, performing with the band RaHoWa. Burdi was convicted of assault causing bodily harm, and was sentenced to one year in prison. Upon his release from prison, Burdi openly renounced racism.
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Burdi came into contact with the White nationalist movement through the father of his then-girlfriend. He became an active White nationalist at the age of 18, and by the age of 21, was the leader of the Canadian branch of the World Church of the Creator.[1] During this period, he wrote a number of articles for the Church of the Creator newspaper, Racial Loyalty, using the name "Rev. Eric Hawthorne" (including the January 1992 cover story, "Enter the Racial Holy War"). He has been credited with helping to secure the survival of Creativity after the death, in 1993, of its founder Ben Klassen.[2]
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 arguably the single largest hate-rock band throughout the 1990s, and is still respected in some white power circles.
Burdi was the founding president of Resistance Records, which was the distributor for his band, and other White nationalist bands. The company also operated a web site, and published a magazine, Resistance, which covered the white pride music scene.
In Ottawa, on May 29, 1993, after a RaHoWa concert which was picketed by Anti-Racist Action protesters, Burdi and the leader of the White Nationalist 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 nationalists marched, they chanted sieg heil, made racist remarks, and gave Roman Salutes. Burdi directed the group, and gave media interviews.
At Parliament Hill, Burdi and Droege addressed their followers with the express purpose of trying to raise the emotional pitch of the evening. Burdi then led the White nationalists to the Chateau Laurier. Once there, Burdi charged across the street to confront the protesters.
One of the victims of that charge was Alicia Reckzin, who was struck on the head while running from Burdi's supporters. When she fell, she was kicked several times on her right side; Reckzin later reported having seen Burdi kick her in the face. Reckzin later left the anti-racist movement in favor of the white pride movement.
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 Court of Appeal for Ontario upheld the lower court's 1995 decision (O.J. No. 554 No. C21788/C21820), and Burdi began his sentence.
Upon completion of his sentence, Burdi - who maintains to this day that he did not personally assault Reckzin - announced that he had seen the "error" of his ways, and then renounced racism, yet has made attempts as of late to get closer to the movement again.[3] He sold Resistance Records to Willis Carto;[4] Carto in turn sold the company to William Luther Pierce of the National Alliance.
Burdi has publicly stated that he has renounced White nationalism, and is currently a member of the multi-racial band Novacosm.[5] In 2007, Novacosm recorded a new version of "Ode to a Dying People", which Burdi had previously recorded with RaHoWa and released on the band's 1995 album, Cult of the Holy War.