Mark Vandermaas interviewed by CBC re Tom Keefer march in Caledonia

Not long ago I finished a short, but great radio interview w/CBC radio (French) out of Toronto who wanted my perspective on today’s march through Caledonia as the founder of the Caledonia Victims Project.

 

They were given material by the organizers of today’s takeover of the streets of Caledonia by Tom Keefer and his anti-capitalist allies that left the impression today’s march was about ‘commemmorating’ the occupation, but I talked about the flyer delivered to Haldimand homes in which they make it clear that the purpose was not about commemoration, but because Gary McHale & company (of which I am proud to be one) decided to walk down a county road through DCE, and how they are using the circumstances of a mentally disturbed person who tried to commit suicide by driving his car into the house on DCE.

 

I told him that it doesn’t matter whether they’re commemorating the beginning of a reign of terror against innocent people or reacting to non-native people who dared to walk down a county road, their goal is to legitimize the use of violence against innocent people as a political tool, by denying the humanity of their victims by pretending they don’t exist, by blaming the victims for the violence against them, and by attacking those who speak out for them. I said this was the essence of a supremacist ideology and, as the son of parents who lived under Nazi occupation, I found it disgusting and despicable.

 

I made clear that the victims also include native people; I mentioned the two rapes of native women on DCE, and that as a former soldier/peacekeeper I have a duty to speak for them too.

 

Freedom Party of Ontario bestows ‘Free Speech Award’ on Mary Lou Ambrogio; praises Caledonia activists

The week beginning Saturday, April 21, 2012 was surely one of curious contrasts for Caledonia rule-of-law activists…

During the day I was one of two non-native activists arrested for ‘breaching the peace’ as I was being assaulted by one of the occupiers on the Douglas Creek Estates in Caledonia.

• VoiceofCanada, April 27/12: Vandermaas email to OPP officer re April 21 DCE rally before two ‘breach of peace’ arrests

120421 Freedom Party of Ontario ‘Red Alert’ dinner meeting. L-R: Robert Vaughan, Leader Paul McKeever, Mary Lou Ambrogio, Mark Vandermaas, Gary McHale, Eva Ryten, Al Gretzky, Bob Metz, Bjorn Larsen.

In the evening, I was honoured to be a guest speaker and presenter at the post-election dinner meeting for the Freedom Party of Ontario where executive members Bob Metz, Robert Vaughan, and leader Paul McKeever explained why the NDP, Liberals and Hudak PCs are all nearly-identical ‘red’ parties more interested in promoting ‘wealth distribution’ than in promoting wealth creation and protecting liberty. 

• Freedom Party of Ontario updates, April 22/12: Ontario sees Red as budget vote approaches (speeches will be uploaded to YouTube when available, so check this page)
• Freedom Party of Ontario website: FreedomParty.on.ca
• Just Right Media, April 05/12: RED Alert! So Where’s the Right? Guest: Paul McKeever, Leader, Freedom Party [Just Right-244 AUDIO]

On the way home my very apolitical wife said, ‘The penny dropped after listening to the speeches. Now I understand the difference between the parties.’

Freedom Party of Ontario – honouring a great friend of Caledonia, Canada, liberty and democracy

Following Paul McKeever’s very thought-provoking speech about the red parties vs. liberty I gave a short talk to help honour an amazing activist named Mary Lou Ambrogio, VP of the Canadian chapter of the International Free Press Society (seen above as evening emcee for my inaugural 2012 Israel Truth Week Conference), and presented her, on behalf of the Freedom Party of Ontario, the party’s ‘Free Speech Award’ in recognition of her tireless work in giving a voice to artists, authors, politicians and advocates who have been faced persecution by those who fear the light shone on their lies and/or crimes. 

Vandermaas email to OPP officer re April 21 DCE rally before two ‘breach of peace’ arrests

On April 18/12 an officer from the plain-clothed OPP ‘Provincial Liaison Team’ sent me an email politely inquiring as to what day we would be holding our planned march onto the Douglas Creek Estates in Caledonia. Gary McHale had refused to disclose the information, and she was hoping I would. I wrote back to her on April 19 explaining why I would not do so. The email is below. But, before we get there…

Mark Vandermaas – arrested for being the victim of an assault by a native radical

Keep in mind while reading my message to her that just two days later, on April 21/12, she and her OPP partner (wearing blue/black jackets in photo below) would watch a native occupier (red hat, sunglasses, dark coat) chase after me and assault me by blocking my path and chest-butting me as I carried a sign saying ‘HEALING BEGINS WITH APOLOGIES.’

Mark Vandermaas honoured as part of Zachor Coalition at National Holocaust ceremony, Ottawa

VoiceofCanada editor Mark Vandermaas was called to the stage at the National Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony to be part of the candle-lighting ceremony in honour of the ‘Zachor Coalition’ — the group of organizations who contributed to the event’s success.

120423 Mark Vandermaas (white shirt & tie, behind podium) with other members of ‘Zachor Coalition,’ National Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony, Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

In the audience were 45 people who had travelled with Mark via a bus sponsored by the Canadian Society for Yad Vashem including, Caledonia activists Gary & Christine McHale as well as Merlyn Kinrade and his daughter Olivia, along with Al Gretzky from the International Free Press Society; Steve Scheffer from Hamilton’s Never Again group, and Rabbi Jonathan Hausman who flew up from Boston to ride the bus with his ‘Favourite Gentile.’

At his March 21/12 Israel Truth Week Conference in London, which was held at Royal View Church (where Caledonia activist Gary McHale’s message to Christians about the evils of racism – especially anti-Semitism – and about the necessity of paying a price for their beliefs was very well received), Mark announced that the Canadian Society for Yad Vashem had offered to provide a bus to take people to Ottawa for the ceremony. Dr. Peter Marshall of the Victory International Church in Hamilton enthusiastically supported the trip and approximately half the bus’s 46 passengers were members of his 1,000-strong congregation.

ANNOUNCING: 2012 Israel Truth Week Conference – ‘ISRAEL: THE CASE FOR THE DEFENCE,’ London ON, March 21st.

Many of you followed my 26-day ‘Blue Beret’ vigil during last summer’s ‘Boat to Gaza’ flotilla fiasco.

 

After reading about the recent intimidation of Jewish students at Western University here in London (Jewish Tribune, Feb 09/12, ‘UWO Students Disrupt Jewish Event’) I – with help from other friends of Israel – have organized a direct response to this outrage via the first ‘Israel Truth Week Conference’ to be held in London on March 21st. to show Jewish students and families that they are not alone, that non-Jews are prepared to stand with them against the incitement and vilification directed towards them, particularly during the so-called ‘Israel Apartheid Week.’

 

The theme of the conference is…

 

‘ISRAEL: THE CASE FOR THE DEFENCE.’

 

A colour e-brochure and a B&W version for printing can be downloaded at the IsraelTruthWeek.org website.

 

In additon to a field of great presenters, including Rabbi Jonathan Hausman; Dr. Salim Mansur (author of ‘Delectable Lie: A liberal repudiation of multiculturalism); and Rev. Joe Campbell I will be discussing the evidence showing the involvement of anti-Israel groups in supporting the lawlessness during the Caledonia crisis in the context of explaining how our work there led me to begin this project.

 

NEWS RELEASE: Caledonia 8 invite PC leader Tim Hudak to march in Caledonia against racism

UPDATES:

• VoiceofCanada, Feb 28/12: Dear Ontario PC Party: blood from future victims on YOUR hands, not ours
• Dunnville Chronicle, Feb 27/12: McHale invites Hudak to rally in March
• Country Radio 107.3, Feb 22/12: McHale invites Hudak to Caledonia (note: the story incorrectly states that the DCE occupation site ‘was given’ by the Ont. govt. in exchange for ending the occupation. This is not correct. Other property was given to end the roadblock of the main road through Caledonia, but the DCE is provincially owned land that it allows to be used by those who terrorized Caledonia. More info about the vexatious nature of the land claims made by occupation radicals and how the courts have ruled against them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcCZshMikDY; speaker’s notes:  PDF, 36p, incl. citations)

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Feb. 22, 2012  [PDF]

Caledonia 8 invite PC leader Tim Hudak to march in Caledonia against racism

The Caledonia 8 – which includes members of CANACE, the Caledonia Victims Project and courageous residents of Haldimand County – call upon PC leader Tim Hudak to help them take a stand against institutionalized racism in Ontario and, in particular, against the McGuinty government’s racist policies that have victimized so many in Haldimand County. 

The Caledonia 8 are extending an official invitation to PC leader Tim Hudak to march side-by-side with them in Caledonia during the month of March on a date of his choosing. 

The principles of Rule of Law and equality under the law are fundamental principles of grassroots conservative people. As such the issues surrounding Caledonia must be key to the Conservative party’s efforts to rid Ontario of McGuinty’s racial policing policies. 

McHale arrested in Caledonia because Native man assaults 77 yr old former Navy vet/UN peacekeeper & OPP officers

LAST UPDATED Feb 28/12

• ** JUST RELEASED** – CANACEhd video, Feb 18/12: CANACE attacked on DCE Feb 18 2012
• VoiceofCanada, Feb 22/12: David Strutt photos capture Caledonia 8 history on Douglas Creek Estates in Caledonia
• CFRB Newstalk 1010, Jerry Agar, Feb 21/12: Gary McHale & Christie Blatchford re Caledonia racism [CFRB LINK, scroll down] (A ‘MUST-LISTEN INTERVIEW.’ See also: LINK)
• OPP News Release, Feb 19/12: Assault With A Weapon (Teresa Jamieson re attack on Gary McHale)
• BlogWrath.com, Feb 19/12: Caledonia — pipe-wielding native detained (And Gary McHale wrongfully arrested again) (Miroslav was there on Saturday with us, and he shares some great pictures and a unique chronological narrative in some detail)
• CFRB 1010 has now posted video from yesterday’s Caledonia 8 protest on the Douglas Creek Estates taken by CANACE videographer Jeff Parkinson, a member of the C8. Video links below.
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Only in Caledonia.

Only in Caledonia do the police let the native thugs who attack their officers and peaceful non-native people (one of whom happens to be an elderly, cancer-ridden veteran of the Canadian Navy and a UN peacekeeping mission) go free, and arrest the peaceful leader of the non-natives for standing quietly on a county road. You just can’t make this stuff up.

Today seven of the Caledonia Eight, along with a number of Caledonia residents, supporters and spouses, did what no one has done since Feb 28/06 when the occupation there began. We walked through the gates of the Douglas Creek Estates, down the county road that runs through it, to within 100 feet or so of the only house on the site.

The visit was a surprise for the occupiers and police, who were warned shortly before we left the Lions Hall in Caledonia to drive to the site.

Although history was made today by both the visit itself into Dalton McGuinty’s forbidden no-go zone via the county road that runs through the site; and by the first-ever arrest of a native person during the commission of a crime (an assault on Gary McHale), we clearly demonstrated once again that racial policing is very much alive.

The OPP arrested Gary McHale for the sixth time because a native man assaulted OPP officers and 77 year old Navy war veteran & UN peacekeeper Merlyn Kinrade who was wearing his blue beret and holding a UN flag.

Sadly, he also happens to be suffering from cancer. It happened right beside me. The police let the attacker go, and then arrested the non-native — Gary McHale — because he refused to leave because he wasn’t doing anything illegal. Why the arrest then? Because, according to the police, it was Gary McHale – one of the peaceful non-native victims of an earlier assault – who was inciting a breach of the peace.

One observer who has never attended one of our protests sent me this comment:

“I’m still trying to get it through my head that Gary was arrested in order to stop the natives from continuing to break the law. This is just ludicrous.”

SUN TV re tomorrow’s Caledonia rally: ‘Courageous Caledonia 8’

UPDATED Feb 22/12:

• VoiceofCanada, Feb 22/12: David Strutt photos capture ‘Caledonia 8 history on Douglas Creek Estates in Caledonia
• VoiceofCanada, Feb 19/12: McHale arrested in Caledonia because Native man assaults 77 yr old former Navy vet/UN peacekeeper & OPP officers
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First, let me invite readers to our rally tomorrow which begins 2pm at the Lions Hall in Caledonia. We will then travel to the McGuinty/OPP racially-segregated Douglas Creek Estates and attempt — again — to walk down the county road upon which the Caledonia 8 were arrested on Dec 03/11 (charges were later dropped). 
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‘Courageous Caledonia 8’?

It isn’t what we’d say about ourselves, but after five plus years of full-time volunteer work fighting to preserve the rule of law and equality before it in Caledonia I have to admit that the SUN TV’s title for today’s interview with Gary McHale  did send a little chill down my spine:

• SUN News, Ezra Levant show, w/Jerry Agar, Feb 17/12: Courageous Caledonia 8

Sure, seeing Jerry Agar interview Gary McHale (seen right on April 21/10 w/wife Christine on the steps of the Hamilton courthouse after a charge of Counselling Mischief Not Committed was withdrawn by the Crown) under the title ‘Courageous Caledonia 8’ was a form of vindication after such a long struggle, but the title means much more than feeding one’s vanity; it represents a milestone in that a major news service has given credibility to the story of Caledonia, and those of us who are the experts in understanding it.

SUN News has clearly decided that this story will be doggedly pursued with a gutsy determination to dig deep into the cesspool of lies and myths that keep us from resolving this without appeasing the lawless thugs who terrorized an entire county. And, there are so many of them…but first…

Those with real courage — and it’s not us…

We’ve never been comfortable when people refer to us as heroes or such. The real heroes are buried in graves all over the world, some of whom have never come home. These patriots, who dared leap off the the back of landing craft in Normandy knowing a bullet was likely to be their reward; or braved the Serbian guns in the Medak Pocket under the UN flag; or pulled their comrades out of harms way in Afghanistan under fire at great risk to their own lives…surely they must be rolling in their graves in wonderment that we have had to fight so hard and so long just to convince a corrupt police force, an even more corrupt government, and a lazy media that all people should be treated equally before the law, and that violence can never be rewarded.

Stories & letters from final edition of Haldimand Regional News

UPDATE: National Post, Feb 10/12: Christie Blatchford: Caledonia loses brave, feisty voice as Regional shuts its doors
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Since the Regional News did not publish its stories online Christine McHale (photo below) has taken the time to transcribe some of the key articles from today’s final edition so we can share them with you.

In choosing to publish four separate items from four separate members of the Caledonia Eight in her last edition, publisher Chris Pickup left no doubt where she stood when it came to supporting those who have fought to restore the rule of law and end OPP racial policing in Caledonia:

Regional News, final edition, Feb 08/12: Selected stories [PDF, 9P]

• ANNOUNCEMENT (Chris & Kevan Pickup): It’s been forty years but now it’s goodbye...
• EDITORIAL (Chris Pickup): Residents have lost their alternative voice
• LETTER TO EDITOR: (Bonnie Stephens, Caledonia 8): Stand up people
• LETTER TO EDITOR (Merlyn Kinrade, Caledonia 8): Truth, justice and freedom of speech not allowed in Haldimand County
• ARTICLE (Mark Vandermaas, Caledonia 8): Charges dropped against Caledonia Eight, but OPP undeterred
• WEEKLY OPINION COLUMN (Gary McHale, Caledonia 8): Mayor Hewitt used your taxpayers’ money to control the message
• LETTER TO EDITOR (Gordon S. Munro): Where was the coverage?

‘No Blacks, Whites or Jews Allowed by Order of McGuinty’ – by Gary McHale

“…the law in Haldimand County operates as the law in America’s Deep South once worked, where there was one law for the white man, who could break it with impunity, and another for the black man. In Haldimand County, since the occupation began, there has been one law for natives and another for non-natives.“

• Globe & Mail, Christie Blatchford, May 04/11: Caledonia activist free to drop by Canadian Tire [PDF]

What does the term ‘Non-Native’ really mean? ‘Rights for Whites?’ Or ‘Rights for All?’

For five years we have been engaged in a struggle to end OPP race-based policing directed against “non-native” people.  During that time many journalists have used the ‘non-native’ term, including Christie Blatchford, author of the Helpless: Caledonia’s Nightmare of Fear And Anarchy, And How The Law Failed All of Us, in which she laid bare much of the damning evidence proving that OPP officers were given, and followed, orders to conduct racial policing. 

On May 04/11, barely six months after release of Helpless Blatchford wrote a story after witnessing the shocking testimony of an OPP officer attempting to justify why the force was again trying to exclude Gary McHale from certain areas of Caledonia after arresting him on a trumped-up assault charge (later dropped by the Crown prior to trial) in which she wrote the words above comparing the law in Caledonia/Haldimand County to the blatantly biased workings of the racist Deep South.  

• VoiceofCanada, May 06/11: Blatchford on McHale bail hearing: ‘law in Haldimand County operates as the law in America’s Deep South once worked’

But, what does the term ‘Non-Native’ really mean?

The Caledonia 8 – arrested in non-Native ‘no-go zone’ occupation site

• UPDATE, Feb 05/12: Charges dropped against Caledonia Eight, but OPP undeterred
• UPDATE: VIDEO: The Caledonia Eight Arrested
• UPDATE: CAUGHT ON TAPE: Native occupier threatens non-native woman in Caledonia’s ‘no-go zone’

UPDATED – VoiceofCanada editor/Caledonia Victims Project founder Mark Vandermaas was one of eight people arrested yesterday while walking on the occupied Douglas Creek Estates (DCE) in Caledonia.  The protest was organized by Canadian Advocates for Charter Equality (CANACE) to draw attention to the racially-segregated site owned by the Ontario government and Haldimand County, a ‘no-go zone’ for non-natives and police.

According to Gary McHale, Executive Director of CANACE, the goal of the protest was to remind the OPP, the McGuinty government and Haldimand County that citizens will never surrender their freedoms and rights to OPP racial policing policies.

• Canadian Advocates for Charter Equality news release, Dec 03/11: CALEDONIA 8: OPP illegally arrest 8 people in Caledonia today 

Rule of law activists from London, Richmond Hill, Binbrook and Norfolk lined up quietly with Caledonia/Haldimand residents to wait their turn to refuse OPP orders to leave the road into DCE. We were then arrested, handcuffed and loaded into a paddy wagon which took us to the Caledonia OPP sub-station where we were issued tickets and released. The photo above of the ‘Caledonia 8’ was taken in front of the station after our release. Additional photos can be found below.

Jacob Peretz to London Free Press: Coverage of Gaza boat story shameful as voyage itself

Letter to London Free Press submitted by resident, Jacob Peretz, who was the first member of the London Jewish community to show support for the Blue Beret vigil outside the London (Muslim) Mosque, on Day 3 – June 25/11 (I have made some minor typographical corrections).

Jacob sent a copy to me after it appeared in the LFP.

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Middle East

Gaza

I would like to submit a letter Letter to the editor July 5, 2011. The London Free Press (LFP), daily coverage of the “Canadian boat to Gaza” is shameful as is the voyage itself.

Billed as a humanitarian voyage to aid the people of Gaza against “Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza”, this trip is nothing but a provocation against the legitimacy of the state of Israel. The people of Gaza are proud to say that they democratically elected this Hamas government and the world has to accept their votes. These people then have to live with the consequences of a government bent on the destruction of Israel and the elimination of the Jewish people all over the world.

Mark Vandermaas letter to Hamilton Spectator: ‘Genocidal anti-Semitism is the issue’

On Day 5 (June 27/11) of my ‘Blue Beret’ vigil at the London (Ontario) mosque vs. its support for the Canadian Boat to Hamas, the Hamilton Spectator published a letter to the editor from me, giving it prominence at the top of the Letters page. They did not change a word. Unfortunately, the letter is not available on-line at TheSpec.com .

‘Genocidal anti-Semitism is the issue’

 by Mark Vandermaas, June 27/11
Letter to the Editor of Hamilton Spectator, Ontario, Canada

Re: ‘An opportunity for lasting peace’ by George Sorger (June 22/11)

As a former U.N. peacekeeper (Egypt, 1978) I would like to point out several key facts those who espouse the wishful suggestion that peace will come if Israel withdraws to pre-1967 borders prefer to ignore:

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1. The state of Israel was attacked by multiple Arab armies the day after it announced its independence on May 14, 1948 following its U.N. sanctioned creation as part of a two-state solution. This was nearly 20 years BEFORE Arabs failed again to destroy her in 1967 when Israel seized the West Bank during combat. In 2005 Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip and was rewarded by a hail of rockets directed at its civilians from Hamas which continue to this day.

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Mark Vandermaas letter to Hamilton Spectator: ‘Genocidal anti-Semitism is the issue’

This article has been republished under a new URL that matches the title chosen by the Hamilton Spectator.

• VoiceofCanada, June 27/11: Mark Vandermaas letter to Hamilton Spectator: ‘Genocidal anti-Semitism is the issue’

Mark Vandermaas, Editor
VoiceofCanada
info@voiceofcanada.ca

(FINAL) DAY 26 UPDATE: ‘Blue Beret’ vigil at London (Ontario) Muslim Mosque re support for ‘Canadian Boat to Hamas’

________________________________________________
The ‘Blue Beret’ vigil ended Monday, July 18th (Day 26).
________________________________________________

ABOUT THIS PAGE: This page is for updates and photos related to former U.N. peacekeeper Mark Vandermaas’ campaign of daily protests against the support given to the Canadian Boat to Gaza by the London Muslim Mosque.

For background and supporting references, see:

• MEDIA RELEASE: Former Blue Beret to protest London (Ontario) Muslim Mosque support for Canadian Boat to Hamas

STANDING OFFER TO CANCEL ‘BLUE BERET’ PROTESTS – See Day 7 update for details.

 INVITE MARK VANDERMAAS TO SPEAK –  I would love to share the ‘Blue Berets for Peace’ message with your church or organization:

• Mark Vandermaas, July 03/11: Why I carry a Palestinian flag in my pocket
• VoiceofCanada, July 11/11: The op-ed the London Free Press refused to print: ‘Blue Berets for Peace vigil in London,’ by Gary McHale [PDF, article only]
• Caledonia Victims Project: About – Mark Vandermaas (includes contact info)

Blue Beret vigil in the media

• ‘Just Right’ Show, CHRW Radio 94.9FM, UWO, July 14/11: Mark Vandermaas – Blue Berets for Peace [WMA] [HQ MP3] [WEBSITE]
• Landmark Report (Andrew Lawton), special contribution by Gary McHale, July 12/11: McHale: Blue Berets for Peace Vigil in London [PDF]
• Moose & Squirrel, July 12/11: London (not so) Free Press continues to ignore the news as it parades directly under their upturned noses (“...the anti-Israel LFP continues to look like the laughing stock that it is. Priceless — great work, Mark et al!”
• AltLondon.org, July 12/11: Johnny Canuck-style protester at London Mosque to move information picket to London Free Press building this morning   [PDF]
• Blog Wrath, July 11/11: The Blue Beret and the London Not-So-Free Press (“With Mark standing at the mosque, the whole issue of the Canadian leftist psychopaths supporting Hamas is hard to ignore. You can consider him an embodiment of the conscience, which the mosque and the progressives lack.“)
• Masters of Deceit (Leila Paul), July 07/11: True Patriot Love – Standing Up To London’s Mosque (“Here’s Mark’s story and you’ll see why he inspired me. His voice is indeed the Voice of Canada for if true patriot love had a voice it would be Mark’s voice.”)
• Toronto Sun (Peter Worthington), July 06/11: Flotilla should stay docked [PDF]
• Jewish Tribune (Joanne Hill), June 28/11: Former UN peacekeeper staging daily protests against London mosque
• VoiceofCanada, June 27/11: Mark Vandermaas letter to Hamilton Spectator: ‘Genocidal anti-Semitism is the issue (published during Blue Beret vigil)

PROTEST INFO: Blue Beret vigil ended Monday, July 18th (Day 26)

Final days of Blue Beret vigil:

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• Monday, 10:00 – 11:00 am: daily Blue Beret vigil
  London Muslim Mosque, 151 Oxford St. W., London, ON [MAP]
• Monday 11:30-1:00 pm: London Free Press
  369 York St., London [MAP]

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM MARK: If you decide to join me…

The purpose of these protests is to share the truth about Israel’s unique United Nations creation and its fight for survival  by doing so in a positive, peaceful, firm fashion so others will understand what it will take to truly bring peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and protect innocent civilians in the interim. I would appreciate it very much, therefore, if you would please review these 2 items before deciding to participate:

• Blue Beret protest guide: ‘OUR GOALS TODAY’ [PDF]
• ‘Provoking Violence? Lessons from Dr. King and the Little Rock Nine‘ [LINK] [PDF] [VIDEO, 9:24] (Mark Vandermaas speech, March for Freedom, Caledonia Lions Park, ON May 24/09)

VoC 21 minute course: ANTI-ISRAEL PROPAGANDA 101

Ethnic cleansing of Palestinians or a struggle for survival against genocidal anti-Semitism?

In this short course, which should take you no more than 21 minutes or so to complete, you’ll learn how to distinguish fact from fiction before entering into any debate on the Middle East issue, and you will have the satisfaction of knowing you will most likely be the most informed person in the room:

• VoiceofCanada 21 minute course: ANTI-ISRAEL PROPAGANDA 101

Photo Credits: click here

(FINAL) DAY 26, Monday, July 18/11

A terrific lady who has been with me nearly every day of the Blue Beret vigil joined me at the mosque from 10-11am. Just before leaving the lady with the hat and almost-matching vest to mine (photo R) came by for the first time to talk, offer support and get her picture taken with us.

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One final protest at the London-Not-So-Free Press

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We then headed off, after a quick refreshment break, to close the vigil by spending an hour in front of the London Free Press – the paper that published 3 ‘puff pieces’ for David Heap (UWO) and Muhammed Humou (former Ops Mgr of the London Muslim Mosque), the two ‘delegates’ on the Canadian Boat to Hamas, but steadfastly refused to publish any stories about the Jews, Christians and others who came from as far away as Hamilton, Binbrook and Caledonia to help me hold the mosque accountable for their support for the mission to break the Israeli blockade keeping weapons from Hamas.

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Just to refresh your memory, this is what the LFP published about the Canadian Boat to Hamas:

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• London Free Press, July 04/11: London area supporters raise more than $60,000 in aid: ‘Aid for Gaza: Londoners are among the Canadian contingent bound for the troubled region’ [PDF]
• London Free Press, June 30/11: Two Londoners among Gaza-bound activists [PDF] (updated version of June 28th story with Q&A interview w/Heap added so he could explain “why he’s part of Freedom Flotilla II.”)
• London Free Press, June 28/11: Londoners join Gaza flotilla [PDF] (subsequently updated June 30/11 and renamed ‘Two Londoners among Gaza-bound activists

This is what they refused to publish:

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• VoiceofCanada, July 11/11: The op-ed the London Free Press refused to print: ‘Blue Berets for Peace vigil in London,’ by Gary McHale [PDF]

What did the Blue Beret vigil accomplish?

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• Allowed me a daily opportunity for nearly a month to do what I could to counter the anti-Israel fabrications from the Boat to Gaza operators in my own small way (If you haven’t seen it yet, take this 21-minute course – ‘Anti-Israel Propaganda 101′).
• Exposed the London Free Press editorial bias against Israel, and the importance of the role of alternative media in countering that bias.
• Exposed – with key help from former journalist Leila Paul – the undue influence of Muslims in controlling editorial content at the London Free Press.
• Exposed – with key help from investigative blogger Blazing Cat Fur – the role of London Muslim Mosque in aiding war instead of peace via its support for the Cdn. Boat to Hamas.
• Created network of relationships and sense of unity. Plans are being made to build on the Blue Berets for Peace initiative.
• Brought Jews & non-Jews together to help public understand truth about Israel.
• Shared thoughts re Israel & Middle East with a letter to Canada’s Ambassador to U.N. on Day 25 [PDF, 3p]
• Provided training for new activists. Comment from one regular participant: “I feel much more comfortable now taking a truly activist role in whatever it is that concerns me.  That’s thanks to you and Gary [McHale].”
• Obtained media coverage in mainstream (non-London) print media, local broadcast media, and key online outlets. The protest was covered by the legendary founder of the Toronto Sun, Peter Worthington, and by Canada’s largest Jewish newspaper, the Jewish Tribune.
• Had a lot of fun meeting new people, and learning from them.

Many thanks to…

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• London Police Service CORE unit. I kept my promises and I kept them informed; in return they didn’t interfere with what I was trying to do, and I knew if I needed them they’d be there. Thanks to the OPP PLT for the introduction to the LPS unit.
• London Muslim Mosque: I had absolutely not a single confrontation or even a hint of one from the mosque. I’m sure it wasn’t easy for you seeing me there each day, but I appreciate the respect you showed for my right to protest.
• Everyone who came out to support me: Jews, Christians, others from London and as far away as Hamilton, Binbrook and Caledonia. Thanks especially to the amazing Blue Beret ladies, especially one who was with me nearly every day right up to the end. Thanks to the Never Again Group for making 3 trips to London. Thanks to Jacob Peretz for being the first member of London’s Jewish community to stand with us. Thanks to Al Gretzky and Mary Lou Ambrogio of the the International Free Press Society. Thanks also to Pesach Ovadyah, Chair of the Jewish Defence League in London.
• Rabbi Jonathan Hausman from Massachusetts for his very kind and very generous words of encouragement on Day 4, and for his offer to come to Canada to speak at an event with me.
• Gary & Christine McHale, Merlyn Kinrade, Bonnie Stephenson — the Caledonia contingent – for repeated trips to London. I’ve spent the last 5 years travelling back and forth from London to Caledonia, so it was wonderful to see Caledonia faces supporting the Blue Beret vigil in London.
• Pat Woolley from Caledonia for making time to come out all by himself to be with me/us last Saturday (Day 24) to see the ‘divine invitation’ to attend the funeral service for a former RCR U.N. peacekeeper brother in arms — offered by a woman driving past us. Glad you got to witness that little miracle, especially given your role in leading me to become a Christian.
• Former journalist Leila Paul for her courage in allowing me to publish her emails between her and LFP Editor Joe Ruscitti which showed how editorial content in the paper was subject to undue consideration of Muslim interests.
• Thanks to all of you who provided coverage that ‘mainstream’ media in London) refused to provide. Blazing Cat Fur; Kaffir Kanuck; Gary & Christine McHale/CaledoniaWakeUpCall.com; Bob Metz & Robert Vaughan of the ‘Just Right’ Show at CHRW 94.9FM at UWO; The Jewish Tribune; Peter Worthington of the Toronto Sun; Moose & Squirrel. (I’d put in links, but I’m falling asleep at the keyboard, guys and won’t last much longer.)

So, what now?

First, some time away from the computer to rest, catch up on sleep & recharge batteries. I thought it would be easy to stand every day for an hour and then get on with the rest of my work on the Caledonia issue. I was wrong(!).

After some R& R…

1. I’d love to present ‘Why I carry a Palestinian flag in my pocket‘ to your church, synagogue or organization. Email me at mark@blueberet.ca, or call 519.457.0709. You can find my ‘resume’ here.

2. Given Rabbi Hausman’s offer to come from the U.S. to speak at an event with me, I would like to use it as an opportunity to build on the Blue Berets for Peace initiative to create an event called, ‘Israel: The Case For The Defence‘ that would be presented in Southern Ontario universities this fall as a counter-point to the repulsive ‘Israeli Apartheid Week’ events. If you can help with venues, sponsorship or promotion, let me know.

3. And, of course, there’s still plenty to do in Caledonia:

• Joint CANACE/Caledonia Victims Project media release: Caledonia — what went wrong? What next? Longtime volunteers stand ready with answers & help (time to end the illegal peacekeeping mission on Canadian soil; includes key references to help journalists, politicians and researchers what went wrong & how to fix things.)

Thank you for following the Blue Beret vigil. I’ve been overwhelmed with your interest and support. If you’d like to be on my mailing list send an email to mark@blueberet.ca to let me know.

Mark

DAY 25: Sunday, July 17/11

Just my wife and me today on a quiet Sunday morning. How I love that woman!

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One more day left

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Tomorrow will be the 26th and final day of the Blue Beret vigil. 10-11 at the mosque. 11:30-1:00 pm at the London Free Press building on York St. Addresses and maps above.

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Have you taken VoiceofCanada’s 21 minute course: ‘Anti-Israel Propaganda 101’ yet?

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Now recommended by Christians for Israel via Twitter, and Gary McHale who called it “…the best post I have ever seen on the topic – quite amazing.”

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My letter to Mr. John McNee, Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations re anti-Semitic Richard Falk cartoon + related issues

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