Canadian Jews condemn acquittal of U.S. neo-Nazi
Lawyer Threatened
An American neo-Nazi who advocated killing an Ottawa activist and overthrowing the Canadian government by force has been acquitted of uttering threats.
William A. White was charged in 2008 after he wrote repeatedly on his website and in his magazine that Canadian human rights lawyer Richard Warman should be assassinated.
Apparently angry at Mr. Warman's successful campaign against racist Internet sites, White called him an "enemy," wrote that he "must be killed" and provided his home address.
A jury convicted White of threatening Mr. Warman but this week a U.S. District Court judge in Virginia overturned the verdict, ruling his actions did not amount to threats.
"Certainly, calling for Richard Warman to be 'dragged out into the street and shot, after appropriate trial by a revolutionary tribunal of Canada's white activists' or expressing hope that someone firebombs his house is offensive and disturbing, and perhaps frightening to Richard Warman," the Judge James Turk wrote.
But he said White's actions were protected free speech and could not be considered threats because he had not indicated he intended to commit violence against the Canadian.
The judge upheld three other convictions against White stemming from intimidation and threats. White is to be sentenced on April 14 and faces up to 30 years in prison.
"I testified at the trial that I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to figure out that when someone publishes 'Kill Richard Warman' and then gives my home address that they mean it as a true threat," Mr. Warman said yesterday in an email.
"I think it's uncivilized to permit people to issue death threats and counsel murder and firebombing while publishing the desired victim's home address. The First Amendment was passed in 1791 and I doubt that's what the U.S. Founding Fathers had in mind."
Mr. Warman has launched scores of human rights complaints and lawsuits over Internet postings, many of them by far-right extremists. His complaints have resulted in hefty fines but have made him a target.
White, 69, who heads a Virginia neo-Nazi group, had also written that Canada was a "petty tyranny" and called for parliament to be stormed and the government executed. "Overthrown your government! Put your Jews to the sword," he wrote.
"It's breathtaking in its conclusion," Canadian Jewish Congress CEO Bernie Farber, who testified against White, said of the ruling. "And I really do hope the government will address this in an appeal because it can't be allowed to stand."
Posts
