October

4, 2016

Open Letter Re: Soldiers of Odin Canada

Daniel Gallant is a registered Social Worker who studies law, and has been acknowledged as a
leader on topics pertaining to right wing extremism in Canada. Daniel spent nearly ten years
trapped within the white supremacist movement in western Canada, and has since dedicated
his life to undoing violence, racism and hatred. His work has been presented to, acknowledged
by and referenced by world leaders, governments, leadings scholars, global organizations, and
law enforcement.


PART I
Dear Fellow Canadian Citizens,

Dont believe the hype.

Soldiers of Odin (S.O.O.) are not here to protect you, nor your communities. This group claims,
and may even believe, they are working for the greater good. But, this is clearly not true. I
would like to tell you a few things about their organization.

First, S.O.O. is the by-product of the European white supremacist network. The group was
designed in Northern Europe by hate mongers that aim to cleanse neighbourhoods from
immigrant hordes. The groups primary purpose is to engage in war and instil terror into its
enemies, as that is a nature of war; for furthering context Soldiers of Odin were formed to
target immigrants, Muslims and Islam. However, the Canadian leaders of this group want us to
believe they have nothing to do with, nor are they alike or kin to, the hate group that birthed
their organization, a little over one year ago.

Basically the Soldiers of Odin will do whatever it takes to hide behind every mask they can.
Plainly speaking, if the group has no kinship with its white supremacist roots, then why did they
join under the flag, and trademark, of the Soldiers of Odin. There does not appear to be any
logical and rationale that could make this a plausible truth.

Soldiers of Odin began in Europe, formed by white supremacists, about a year ago. Now under
that same flag, Chapters of the organization have spread throughout Europe and North
America; all hailing anti-immigration sentiments and embracing right wing rhetoric. But, the
Canadian chapter wants the citizens of Canada to be permissible and complicit in their
inherently racist organization. This way they can both hide and fulfill their organizations
purpose. Hiding in plain sight.

WHAT IS IN A NAME
Soldiers of Odin are making claims that do not hold up to even the most basic logic testing.

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For instance, lets for a minute consider the name of the organization, Soldiers Of Odin, in
itself demonstrates what the group is, and sets out to do. Odin is the god of war that honours
those who die in battle to protect their race and soil. This is the Odinist way. Anyone who claims
otherwise, either is lying or does not understand the narrative they are supporting, which in
itself demonstrates inconsistent messaging of this organization, or perhaps lies. These tactics
are only utilized by those who have something to mask and hide.

ODINISM
Additionally, the term odinism was the construct of WWII era theorists, who were Nazis. The
Nazis developed and branded odinism out of an ancient Nordic Pre-Christian Religion. The
ancient pagan religion was not called odinism, it is Asatru (and other variations of the like).

The Nazis created a new branch of neo-paganism, odinism, that had erupted into a real threat
all over the world in the 1980s, which disguises itself as a cultural heritage ideology. Yet, just
another way for extremist racists to hide their true color (pardon the pun).

In our era of contemporary right wing politics and global issues pertaining to extremism and
terrorism, these sorts of groups are emerging everywhere. And without a doubt, they are a
threat to those that fall into identifiable categories. By this dynamic alone, is kin to the same
way that racism plays out in our communities; it is schismatic in nature.

The main difference between Astatru and odinism, in a very rudimentary explanation, is that
odinists worship the Nordic god of war. Odin is set out to protect soil and bloodlines. By this
logic alone, Soldiers of Odin are there to protect their own race and land. This alone should be
understood as racist in two ways:

a) Soldiers of Odin was created as an anti-immigration organization to fight against the
Muslim community, and

b) which seeks to protect its (S.O.O.) own kind, and the S.O.O. membership is primarily
white people.

There is another discussion to be had about Soldiers of Odin and their impact upon indigenous
peoples as well. But that is a more complex area of discussion to have in the future. But let me
assure you, this is also an area where this group demonstrates pure ignorance and inconsistent
messages. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to many people the S.O.O. will disguise itself, and its
true purpose, function and structure by convincing members of the public otherwise.

SKINHEADS AND RACISTS
Soldiers Of Odins leaders claim they have purged out the racists from their organization. This is,
flatly, a lie.

I was a part of the white supremacist movement in Canada for ten years. I have been engaged
with online monitoring of white supremacist organizations now for nearly 12 years. I assure you

October 4, 2016
that there is evidence that proves the S.O.O. are soo full of poop, on this point alone. This is
actually a ridiculous claim. They are flatly denying the presence of racists in their midst to the
Canadian Public, while on the other hand have embraced white supremacists within their ranks;
and remember that they were also founded by white supremacists.

White supremacists and racists have been praying to odin before beating and killing people on
our streets, for decades. Some of you may even remember David Bowies 1987 album Tin
Machine warning us about racist odinists in his song entitled: Under the God. This is not a new
issue.

Not only do the Soldiers of Odin have white supremacists in their ranks, but the leadership does
engage in many forms of rhetoric that synthesizes the nature and conduct of, and is derived
from, white supremacist groups.

ANTIFA
S.O.O. has engaged in social media attacks against those who oppose or critique their
organization; and this is why I have chosen to speak out.

Community leader and long-time anti-racist Alan Dutton has been interviewed about his
opinion of Soldiers of Odin Chapter that was recently started in Vancouver. Soldiers of Odin
members and leadership has began referring to the opposition as enemies and then referring to
their critiques as antifa.

This is precisely what fascist, Nazi and white supremacists do. In fact, the rhetoric and dynamic
of attempting to discredit someone, by labelling them as antifa, is birthed out of the white
power movement.

Antifa are people who are anti-fascist. Already, Soldiers of Odin have launched social media
attacks against those they label as antifa, which surely they will label me. This is very
problematic for a couple of reasons:

First, when did we as a society begin to say that Anti-Fascists are a bad thing?

Second, did Canada not take a formal position against the fascist Nazi Regime in WWII?

How can Soldiers of Odin claim to be upholding Canadian law and values when they are
attacking those who stand up against racism and fascism. It seems that Soldiers of Odin are
working contrary to our legal system.

The fact that S.O.O. is attacking antifa online, is indicative of the similar conversations found on
white supremacist websites. This is a core contradictory element of their organizations
discourse. This does demonstrate the ideological lineage of Soldiers of Odins members. I do not
think, nor expect, most Canadians can easily identify these issues. But, I can, as I spent nearly a
decade immersed in that lifestyle; and more than a decade of unlearning the doctrine.

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Conclusion
My years within the white supremacist movement in western Canada, to my profound social
change, and now my current role as an educator, researcher, advocate, Social Worker and
future career as a lawyer, compel me to express to you that this group, in my opinion, are a
threat to safety of ALL Canadians. Especially to minority groups and vulnerable persons.

It has been demonstrated to me, through my research on the Soldiers of Odin that there is a
grave concern that emerges in the influx of their membership, and the fact that many people
who are not attracted to white supremacy, are being duped into this new organization.

I will support any group that keeps our streets safe for ALL Canadians. However, not only are
the Soldiers of Odin unsafe because they are inherently racist and war-minded as an
organization (as is demonstrated by evidence found in their organizations founder and group
name), they have also proven to be comprised of liars, racists, extremists and bullies who
belittle immigrants and anti-racists. This alone should raise flags about who and what the
Soldiers of Odin are.

Canadians should be concerned with this group that is reminiscent of the Heritage Front.

Sincerely,

Daniel Gallant (MSW, RSW)
Juris Doctor Candidate - 2017



PART II
Dear Soldiers of Odin,

It has come to my attention that you have now set up shop in Canada, by rapidly expanding
Chapters of your organization across Canada. Lets not waste time, nor mince words.

Your organization has already demonstrated dishonesty, incongruence and hatred against your
fellow citizens. Your politics are divisive and the evidence is found in your online campaign,
organizational conduct, onslaught of misinformation and the fact that you have members who
are members of various Canadian hate groups (both past and present). Heck, even your
organizations name speaks to the violent nature of your organizations intent: war for the sake
of blood, soil and honour.

There are several things I would like to hash out with Soldiers OF Odin and air publicly, some of
which is in this letter, and more in my letter to all Canadians. We will surely engage more
discourse as time moves forward, as I have a wealth of knowledge, insight, education and
stamina.

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Your respective leader (Joel Angott) indicated (in Metro News article) that you all uphold
Canadian law, and our collective Constitutional Rights. Obviously your organization does not
understand what a Constitutional Right is. There are only a few ways in how S.O.O. could
possibly frame the faade that you all uphold the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the
Constitution. However, we both know this is complete bull-pucky.

If you had any clue what a Constitutional Right was, then you would not be attempting to claim
your neighbourhood patrols protect Constitutional Rights in Canada. Let me explain further.

Canadian Constitutional Rights, are guarantees, in law, that Canadians receive to empower us
as citizens. Guarantees that protect us of from the conduct and actions of government, police
and authorities of certain variety. Moreover, Constitutional Rights are engaged as a legal
protection that are sorted out through the legal system, not by walking through
neighbourhoods creating an environment of fear and intimidation.

I am sorry to inform you that you do not, in fact, nor law, protect Canadians Constitutional
Rights. You are a group of self-appointed, not democratically elected, thugs who patrol streets
against our own citizens. These actions, even if righteous, are in no way connected to upholding
our Constitutional Rights.

If S.O.O. were in fact upholding our Constitutional Rights you all would be working within legal
strategies against the government and authorities, where there were Constitutional failings and
pitfalls. You would not be involving yourself in right wing extremism and organized crime
circles.

I do want to acknowledge, however, that we do agree on some matters. Our laws do not
protect citizens well enough from pedophiles, rapists and other social ailments. But to be frank,
I do not believe you are our solution to these matters. In fact, quite the contrary. This is where I
find your organization very similar to white supremacist groups. Your group appeals to those
people who are rightfully angered about the abuses and grievances they and their loved ones
may have suffered. Soldiers of Odin capitalizes upon these vulnerabilities, and exploits citizens
by doing so, while fooling un-suspecting people into your ranks. However, this mere tactic to
garner public attention and community support is bound to fail because it is not transparent
and congruent; rather it is coercive and manipulative.

Fortunately, there are those of us who have a deeper understanding through personal
experience, education and formal research of how organizations like yours get started; and
then move onto becoming a threat to Canadian public safety.

I hope that you take this input, how it is intended. My intention is to show you that your
organization is publicly speaking out of line, on matters it knows not; and that the rhetoric you
are attempting to sell is exposed for what it is: abusive.

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Additionally, I do hope you become aware that there are those in our communities who care
about sustainable public safety. Organizations like S.O.O., albeit believe they are righteous, are
actually creating more divisiveness in our communities and are spreading hatred and fear in the
very communities you claim to protect. The very fact that organizations of minorities are
expressing concern, and your leaderships response is defensiveness and offensive rhetoric,
both demonstrate and exemplifies your organizations nature; the intent of the Soldiers of Odin,
hence, your organizations name that pays homage to the god of war.

Let us, in summary, cut to the chase.

Soldiers of Odin membership includes racists, white supremacists, criminals and liars. S.O.O.
was created to instil fear and conduct acts of violence in a war, that Odin would adore. It is
unfortunate that your predecessor, Odin himself, would probably be very disappointed in your
tactics and dishonesty.

Perhaps the next time you want to sell the Canadian public a stench ridden pile of steaming
crap, you may want to consider a re-brand that does not overtly emulate the true nature of
your groups purpose: abuse, war & racism.


Sincerely,

Daniel Gallant (MSW, RSW)
Juris Doctor Candidate - 2017