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I just finished Richard Hofstadter’s 1964 essay ‘The Paranoid Style in American Politics.’
This seemed relevant, re: Rideau Hall, since reporting identified the suspect as trafficking in QAnon conspiracies, and believing Canada was descending into communist dictatorship.
This seemed relevant, re: Rideau Hall, since reporting identified the suspect as trafficking in QAnon conspiracies, and believing Canada was descending into communist dictatorship.
Hurren hoped his actions would serve as a ‘wake up call’ and ‘turning point,’ according to Global. VICE broke the news he trafficked in QAnon memes.
His case remains before the courts and he’s presumed innocent. More info is likely to come out about his worldview.
His case remains before the courts and he’s presumed innocent. More info is likely to come out about his worldview.
But it’s worth pointing out conspiracy theories—often apocalyptic, millenarian, or anti-Semitic in nature—mixed with anti-communist, anti-government sentiment are a hallmark of the far-right.
See this passage from ‘Bring The War Home’ by Kathleen Belew.
See this passage from ‘Bring The War Home’ by Kathleen Belew.
The ZOG/NWO conspiracy theories aren’t the same as QAnon, but there’s some overlap.
QAnon is certainly apocalyptic and millenarian, to the point where some have likened it to an emerging religious movement. It also has some anti-Semitic overtones.
QAnon is certainly apocalyptic and millenarian, to the point where some have likened it to an emerging religious movement. It also has some anti-Semitic overtones.
And this wouldn’t be the first time a QAnon truther crossed the line from online chatter into real world action.
See this recent NYT piece: https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/02/09/us/politics/qanon-trump-conspiracy-theory.amp.html
See this recent NYT piece: https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/02/09/us/politics/qanon-trump-conspiracy-theory.amp.html
“Its adherents have been arrested in at least seven episodes, including a murder in New York and an armed standoff with the police near the Hoover Dam. The F.B.I. cited QAnon... about the potential for violence motivated by ‘fringe political conspiracy theories.’”
Speaking of the Rideau Hall incident, see this from Justin Ling: https://mobile.twitter.com/Justin_Ling/status/1281743751325593602
A few final thoughts:
The common mistake when reporting on this stuff—not the Hurren case, but these movements more broadly—is the press treats these incidents as isolated.
This obfuscates what's going on.
The common mistake when reporting on this stuff—not the Hurren case, but these movements more broadly—is the press treats these incidents as isolated.
This obfuscates what's going on.
The notion of ‘lone wolf’ needs to be stricken from our vocabulary. We often fail to connect the dots. These aren't lone wolf attacks, these are individual manifestations of a growing transnational movement.
In other words, these are not isolated events. It's a wave.
In other words, these are not isolated events. It's a wave.
And by failing to draw necessary connections, law enforcement, journalists, and the broader public play into these movements’ hands.
While Belew is specifically talking about the white power movement in this passage, it has broader application.
While Belew is specifically talking about the white power movement in this passage, it has broader application.
We also know there have long been connections between far-right violence and the military, both in Canada and the U.S. We’ve seen it in Manitoba with the murder of Gordon Kuhtey and the Mathews case.
We’ve now (allegedly) seen it again with Hurren.
We’ve now (allegedly) seen it again with Hurren.
To be clear: this isn't an indictment of the military as a whole or the vast majority who serve. But by the CAF's own account, there's a subset of members who’ve been radicalized.
In 2018, they identified 16 members connected to hate groups and 37 to discriminatory conduct.
In 2018, they identified 16 members connected to hate groups and 37 to discriminatory conduct.
It’s also worth pointing out there’s a danger in dismissing folks like Hurren or Mathews as bumbling incompetents.
Even unsuccessful attacks speak to the increasing militarization of the broader movement and are harbingers of attacks to come.
Even unsuccessful attacks speak to the increasing militarization of the broader movement and are harbingers of attacks to come.
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And as if on cue: The Star finds Hurren’s Internet history shows a long engagement with conspiracy theories + far-right + ‘alternative news.’ https://mobile.twitter.com/alexboutilier/status/1281979566161100806
