The founder of a group that removes hate symbols was shocked to learn that he was not allowed to remove a swastika from a public park in a Quebec village.
An open-air museum in Pointes-des-Cascades, Que., nearly an hour outside of Montreal, features dozens of historical anchors, including one with an engraved swastika on one side.
Corey Fleischer, known for removing hate symbols with the graffiti-removing group , said he was called to the park by a concerned citizen regarding the hate symbol displayed on the anchor. When he arrived at the park he approached the anchor thinking someone had spray painted a swastika, but noticed the symbol was engraved and had been outlined in black by the city.
鈥淚 decided to remove the paint around the swastika that the city had painted on this ancient World War Two anchor,鈥� Fleischer told CTV Montreal. 鈥淭o have such a sign of hate in a public space is completely unacceptable.鈥�
, Gilles Santerre, who then called the Quebec provincial police. Fleischer agreed to leave after officers warned him that he could be arrested for damaging city property.
But Fleischer explained to 麻豆影视 Channel that the white circle behind the black swastika, which is emblazoned on the anchor, is a Nazi symbol and the centrepiece of the Nazi flag.
鈥淲hat differentiates a Nazi swastika to all other swastikas鈥� is a white circle behind a (black) swastika,鈥� Fleischer told 麻豆影视 Channel. 鈥淲hen I showed up to that park I knew it was a Nazi swastika.鈥�
A small plaque exists below the anchor but does not give much historical context, only saying that the anchor was found at the bottom of Lake St. Louis in 1988.
While it is possible that the ship is from the Second World War, some historians believe the anchor predates the war. It鈥檚 believed the anchor came from a British merchant ship when swastikas were regarded as a sign of good fortune.
The painting of the anchor, however, was carried out by officials with the village after the anchor was lifted from Lake St. Louis.
Cathy Bonneville, a Pointes-des-Cascades resident, was puzzled to learn that the anchor had induced controversy as it鈥檚 a piece of history.
鈥淕o to the Louvre and see if they鈥檒l enjoy you throwing something on a painting because you don鈥檛 like the painting,鈥� Bonneville said.
A written statement from the town says the park is an open-air museum meant to allow people to discover the history of the area. But Fleischer refutes the fact that it鈥檚 an open-air museum, saying it鈥檚 simply a public park.
According to Santerre, the anchor will be staying but new plaques will be installed to provide more historical context.
With a report from CTV Montreal鈥檚 Stephane Giroux
