ThoughtCrime: 01/07/85
Zündel Attacked On Way to Trial
Members of the Jewish Defense League (JDL) screamed obscenities while
attacking Ernst Zündel,
who questions whether six million Jews were killed by the Nazis, outside
Toronto's downtown County Courthouse this morning.
Zündel
, a 46-year-old Toronto man charged with spreading false
news, and about 15 supporters and friends clad in protective yellow
hardhats were set upon as they walked hastily in a box-like formation
toward the courthouse.
About 15 Metro Toronto police could not hold back the 25 members
of the JDL. Several punches landed on Mr. Zündel
's supporters.
During the melee police tackled a couple of the JDL attackers
to the ground. The rhythmic chants of "Never again, never again," had
changed quickly into vulgar obscenities and taunts. There were no apparent
serious injuries. A police spokesman said four JDL members were charged
with causing a disturbance.
Inside, a packed courtroom watched as Mr. Zündel
was arraigned
on two charges of spreading false news which he knew would cause or
was likely to cause mischief to racial or social tolerance. The charges
relate to two booklets published by Mr. Zündel
, West, War, and
Islam, and Did Six Million Really Die?
Defense counsel Douglas Christie made several pre-trial motions
before County Court Judge Hugh Locke regarding the constitutionality
of the charges and the process by which the jury will be be selected.
Mr. Christie, who recently defended Albertan Jim Keegstra in a similar
case, flew from Victoria, B.C., to represent Mr. Zündel
.
In an interview, Mr. Christie decried the violence outside the
courtroom. "I've never seen people beaten on the steps of a courthouse
like that with absolute impunity," he said.
Adapted from: The Toronto Globe and Mail, January 7, 1985. See also,
Michael A. Hoffman II, "The Great Holocaust Trial, Wiswell Ruffin House
1995.
"Thoughtcrime does not entail death: thoughtcrime IS death."
George Orwell
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