MLA David Coon, an anti-Semite?
For our second installment of the Hypocrites Series (the first can be read here), we take a look at MLA David Coon's past support, defense and even participation in anti-Semitic events.
"We're talking about symbols that were used to humiliate Jewish people in Nazi occupied Europe and ultimately help round them up and send them to death camps. I mean, it's just unbelievable what they did."
- David Coon, Fredericton-South MLA and Green Party of New Brunswick leader.
These were the words Fredericton-South MLA David Coon used when speaking with CTV Atlantic regarding an anti-mandate rally held in Fredericton, New Brunswick on December 18, 2021. The interview discusses some participants' use of the Yellow Star of David to compare current events, event the threat of being denied access to food, to the events that took place in 1930's Germany against their Jewish citizens.
We'll pose the same question to Mr. Coon that we did Mayor Kate; where can we locate your official statement condemning the actions of Dorothy Shephard, Minister of Health for New Brunswick when she made it optional, under a mandatory order, for grocery stores to be able to deny access to anyone who could not provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccine?
You know, the vaccine that doesn't actually stop anyone from catching or transmitting the virus, yet government officials continue to use as justification to implement and support the demonization and marginalization of unvaccinated New Brunswickers? Yes, that vaccine.
That time when David Coon attended an anti-Israel protest.
On May 16, 2021, David Coon not only attended, but spoke at an anti-Israel protest outside of Fredericton City Hall, then stood in the crowd as they chanted "Israel is a terrorist state!"
Michael Mostyn, Chief Executive Officer of B'nai Birth Canada stated, "Politicians should be doing their part to reduce tensions, not exacerbate them. By speaking at a rally where Jews were denigrated and terrorist attacks glorified, Mr. Coon, whether intentionally or not, has provided political cover for antisemitism. He should apologize to the Jewish community without delay".
Not only did Mr. Coon did not apologize for participating in the protest, he justified it.
It should also be noted that he had this to say of the protest this past Saturday, "The anti-vaccination protest at City Hall broke public health regulations requiring mandatory masking outside when physical distancing is not possible. The rules must be enforced."
Interestingly, when Mr. Coon attended the anti-Israel protest this past May, he was breaking public health regulations as according to CBC, there were over 150 people in attendance. Public health regulation at the time only allowed for a maximum of 50 people at an outdoor event. Are you going to police and request your fine David?
Aaaand there's more!
In November 2018, CBC New Brunswick reported Green MLA Kevin Arsenault invoked Nazi propaganda while critiquing People's Alliance leader Kris Austin's frequent use of the term 'common sense'. The quote by Joseph Goebbels – Adolf Hitler's propaganda minister – says that with "sufficient repetition," people can be convinced "that a square is in fact a circle" because "words can be moulded" to disguise someone's real meaning.
After Mr. Austin objected to the use of the quote in legislature, Mr. Arsenault was asked if he would like to withdraw his words, he refused. It seems strange to us that a person would take such offense to the term 'common sense' they would invoke Nazism, but there it is.
Did Green Party leader David Coon condemn the use of such Nazi symbolism? Nope. Instead, he defended Arsenault by saying the Geobbels quote is well known and it's fair to use it to comment, without drawings a comparison to Nazism, on how politicians use words.
Interesting. So to make sure we understand; it's perfectly acceptable to use the words of an actual Nazi against a sitting member of legislature in an attempt to marginalize and stigmatize that person, but it's not ok to use a symbol employed by Nazis of which the purpose was to marginalize and stigmatize a group of people, by people who are also being marginalized and stigmatized? Got it!
Considering all of the above, it might have been better, Mr. Coon, to have abstained from criticizing a group of people who are trying to regain their freedoms, you know, like you did on the very important Bill 11 a couple of years ago because you couldn't tell which path would translate into votes so you chose the safe route and did nothing.
Saturday's rally most certainly wasn't an anti-vaccination protest, there were vaccinated people in attendance, but if that's the spin you want to give it go ahead. And I'm not sure you quite understand what 'anti-Semitism' means if you are unable to see the similarities to what is taking place right now to the events that occurred in 1930's Germany. You may want to get your history from an actual history book instead of Dominic Cardy's twitter feed, after all, believing what you read on social media will get you labeled and conspiracy theorist.
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