Pellerin: To combat rising hate, let's find ways to stop yelling at each other

In 2024, we won’t get past political polarization and all the violence it can lead to without paying better attention to one another.

Published Dec 21, 2023 • 3 minute read

Photo by Greg Perry

Some years, the holidays are especially cheerful and bright. Alas, with the rise in hate crimes, 2023 isn’t that kind of year. I want to find hope in the good things we can do to make 2024 as peaceful as it can be, starting with talking to one another more and listening to each other better.

The Toronto police just announced they’ve seen a 41-per-cent increase in hate crimes in 2023 compared to last year. That’s 338 incidents, of which 98 have taken place since Oct. 7, the day of the Hamas terrorist attack.

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The numbers for the full year are not yet available in Ottawa but Ottawa police did say that between Oct. 7 and Dec. 2 there had been 71 reported hate crimes here (55 against the Jewish and Muslim communities), compared to 21 during the same period a year before. That’s a 238-per-cent increase.

Two of the latest incidents involve a swastika reportedly placed on a locker at Algonquin College, and the case of the teenager you’ve seen in the news who faces several terrorism-related charges as part of an alleged plot against the Jewish community.

If a young person can be radicalized to the point of possessing substances used to make explosives, what are we to do about it? And it’s not just that one kid; the RCMP indicated they’d arrested five youths over a six-month period on charges of terrorism.

University of Ottawa criminology Prof. Michael Kempa is not surprised. “There is an uptick in public discussions around issues of either Jews or Muslims, and therefore young people who are always susceptible to these things are being exposed to those messages (of hatred) and being radicalized in those directions.”

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Radicalization is not a new phenomenon, and neither is it limited to hatred towards Jews or Muslims. La Presse had a story last month about misogyny and toxic masculinity à la Andrew Tate (the self-identified misogynist influencer) rising among students in Quebec schools. Members of other communities — racialized folks and LGBTQ2S+ especially — are commonly targeted, too.

What I really want to know is: Who radicalizes these young people and why?

According to Kempa, it can be almost anyone including, disturbingly, the kids’ own parents. Anyone who is themselves radicalized and wants more people to hate particular groups. It can also be “states that are associated with foreign interference in Canada who try to destabilize Canadian society.” They recruit youths online, through video games or social networks, in private chats, through websites and in real-life groups where information and plans can be exchanged, he explains.

The federal government has a national strategy on countering radicalization to violence, aimed at preventing such radicalization early, which is a lot more effective than waiting until people are making explosives in their kitchens. If you’re new at this and want a relatively quick but thorough overview of the problem and what is being done to address it, I highly recommend reading this strategy document.

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If you know someone who’s suddenly exhibiting worrying behaviours (withdrawal from usual activities, more time spent online, refusal to communicate with you about what they’re doing or with whom they spend time, sharing hateful content), reach out for help. The Hate and Bias unit at the Ottawa Police Service would be a good place to seek information and resources, even anonymously.

But beyond that, we really need to start talking to each other more, not yelling at one another from behind our social media handles and various political biases. I’m as guilty of this as the next professional loudmouth. We won’t get out of political polarization and all the violence it can lead to without paying better attention to one another, and listening better. I will make a serious effort — and I hope you’ll join me.

May your holiday season be as bright and peaceful as it can be.

Brigitte Pellerin (they/them) is an Ottawa writer.