singh-heckler_thumb-1.png
singh-heckler_thumb-1.png This article is more than 7 years old

‘I Love Her’: Jagmeet Singh’s Racist Heckler Praised Kellie Leitch at Conservative Leadership Event

Heckler who disrupted Singh’s event last week is affiliated with a Toronto-area hate group and was a supporter of Kellie Leitch

atip-ad-banner.gif

 

The racist heckler who disrupted an event hosted by NDP leadership candidate Jagmeet Singh last week is affiliated with a Toronto-area hate group and was a vocal supporter of failed Conservative leadership candidate Kellie Leitch

The heckler, identified as Jennifer Bush, was filmed in March at a controversial Conservative leadership event in support of Leitch that was attended by Rise Canada, a group that advocates “a permanent ban on all Muslim immigrants plus mass deportation of existing Muslims.”

At the time, the National Post reported on a video from the event, observing “Leitch can be seen shaking hands with a Rise Canada senior adviser and later responding to his questions at the gathering in Brampton, Ontario.”

headline-hategroup-kellieleitch.png

Rise Canada has been involved in a number of controversial actions targeting Muslims in Greater Toronto, including demonstrations at local schools – Bush was filmed in June denouncing Muslims using megaphone and confronting teenagers on a sidewalk outside a Peel high school.

Video from the event also shows it was attended by video blogger Kevin Johnston, who was recently charged with a hate crime, and David Menzies of Rebel Media, a far-right website that receives foreign funding from anti-Muslim think tanks.

“Jennifer” is introduced to the camera as one of Leitch’s “supporters” by Rise Canada head Ron Banerjee, before expressing her excitement at the chance to finally meet the Conservative candidate who made a xenophobic, anti-immigrant purity test the centrepiece of her campaign:

“I love her. I’ve seen her a few times on video, but I’ve never met her, so I’m very excited.”

Sure enough, Bush is later spotted on the video delivering a speech railing against Muslims at the exact moment when Leitch enters the room and receives a standing ovation.

Last week, Bush made headlines around the world when she aggressively interrupted a speech by Singh in Brampton, Ontario and ranted about Muslims.

Singh responded by reassuring Bush “everyone in this room loves you, we all support you” and “we believe in your rights,” then leading the room in a chant of “love and courage” – a response that earned wide praise, including from Martin Luther King Jr.’s daughter, who said it echoed her “father’s belief that love is a powerful force in the face of hate.”

 

That sentiment was also echoed by each of the three other candidates running for NDP leader, all of whom expressed their “solidarity” on Twitter:

 

 

 

After video of the event went viral, Bush filmed a response video claiming she’s not a racist before proceeding to launch into yet another rant about Muslims.

 

And where exactly did she shoot that video? At “Ford Fest,” naturally – the annual Etobicoke barbecue hosted by Toronto mayoral candidate Doug Ford.

donate-5.jpg

Our journalism is powered by readers like you.

We’re an award-winning non-profit news organization that covers topics like social and economic inequality, big business and labour, and right-wing extremism.

Help us build so we can bring to light stories that don’t get the attention they deserve from Canada’s big corporate media outlets.

 

Become a member
PressProgress
PressProgress is an award-winning non-profit news organization focused on uncovering and unpacking the news through original investigative and explanatory journalism.

Most Shared

UBC SPPH NEWS

Take Back Alberta Leaders are Training ‘Scrutineers’ to Infiltrate Campaigns and Act as ‘Security’ on Voting Day

Related Stories

NEWS

UBC faculty members speak out in support of instructor who says he was let go for pro-Palestine activism

View the post
ANALYSIS

Alberta Legislature Wraps Up Fall Session With Anti-Trans Bills

View the post
NEWS

Brampton mayor testifies that India exerted influence over his 2022 Conservative Leadership campaign

View the post
Our free email newsletter delivers award-winning journalism directly to your inbox.
Get Canadian Investigative News You Won't Find in Corporate Newspapers.
Our free email newsletter delivers award-winning journalism to your inbox.
Get Canadian Investigative News You Won't Find in Corporate Newspapers.