Point Douglas man spews 'white power' rhetoric through neighbourhood
Confederate flag displayed in window of home, swastika painted on wall inside
A Point Douglas man who has a confederate flag hanging in the window of his home says he believes in "white power" but doesn't force his beliefs on anyone.
The man spoke briefly to CBC News after a number of people living nearby said they were victims of the man's unprovoked racist remarks.
Kayla Bewer moved to the neighbourhood about a month ago and said she's heard the man yelling at an elderly woman and her grandson who appear to be Latino.
"He yells racial slurs to them tells them to go back to their country and stuff. It's just heartbreaking to hear ... I can't believe anyone would say anything bad about her," said Bewer.
"It doesn't feel welcoming. Everybody else around here is fantastic. This is the nicest neighbourhood I've actually ever lived in and it's super nice to see that everyone is so welcoming to the neighbourhood but this guy," said Bewer.
A newcomer who lives nearby and asked not to be identified said he and his family have also been targeted.
"Whenever we go through his path he makes a lot of bad words and he treats us badly," the newcomer said. "When you ask him [why], he says the white power and the colour."
The newcomer said he and his siblings have had to change their route in and out of the neighbourhood to avoid walking past the man's house.
Ryan Wiebe, who helped sponsor a large family that moved to Manitoba from Eritrea last fall said the man appeared to drive his pickup towards some of the family members.
"[He] hit the brakes as they jumped off the road out of the way, and obviously that was terrifying for them," Wiebe said.
"Whether or not he was physically trying to run into them or just trying to scare them or send a message or whatever the case, it's obviously very terrifying."
Swastika painted on wall
The man, who didn't give his name, declined a request for an interview but agreed to answer a few questions. He let CBC news inside his home and showed us a swastika and Nazi symbols painted on the wall. There is also a large confederate flag painted on the ceiling that stretches the length and width of the entire living room.
The man didn't deny hurling racist slurs at his neighbours. When asked why he said "Why come here? Get a free house and then go on welfare? Hate it," he told CBC News.
The man said he has had several fights with a black neighbour and has told him to "get off my f--ing street."
He's concerned the publicity will spark violence against his property and said he hasn't bothered anyone in some time.
"I don't go out there and promote hate. I just live my life and I work, pay my bills," he told CBC News. "Yes, I've said racist things but I'm not forcing my beliefs on anybody."
"I've been good lately. I'm trying to be a better person here."
'He walks a fine line'
Sel Burrows, chair of the Point Douglas Residents Committee, says people in the neighbourhood consider the man a white supremacist.
"It's not Canadian, it's not decent, it's ugly, illegal, but he walks that fine line where it's difficult to get any criminal charges laid against him," said Burrows.
Burrows said the community is looking for options on how to deal with the racist rhetoric, but hasn't found any yet.
"This one person can destroy a street like that. I mean it's beyond belief what those families have to put up with that."
Burrows says the harassment tapered off for a month after a member of the Winnipeg police paid the man a visit. About two months ago, Wiebe called Burrows to let him know the intimidation tactics had returned.
"The white supremacist had been making shooting motions" at one of the teenage boys in the Eritrean family, Burrows said, "pretending to shoot him."
"Community support unit Winnipeg police officers went to visit the white supremacist and sort of read the riot act to him. They were very good at that, letting him know that he was right on the edge of a serious criminal charge."
As far as Burrows knows there hasn't been any further racist behaviour since the last visit by police.
"Until he commits a clear criminal offence we have a whole bunch of victims on that street," Burrows said.
Winnipeg police said they were notified about the man with a confederate flag in the window back in May 2017.
"We have been out in the community and speaking with residents who have advised he has not caused any issues to date. We are monitoring the situation closely," said Winnipeg policed spokesperson Jay Murray, adding at this time, there are no grounds to lay any charges.
"I feel that there is danger," a man living nearby who was afraid to give his name told CBC News. "Sooner or later someone is going to say something to him and he's going to react badly."
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With files from Meaghan Ketcheson