Diagolon

Diagolon is a Canadian alt-right organization which was considered significant to the Canada convoy protest by the Government of Canada. It is led by Jeremy MacKenzie.

Diagolon
Founding leaderJeremy MacKenzie
Foundation2020
CountryCanada
IdeologyAccelerationism
Slogan"Gun or rope"
Websitediagolon.org (2022 archive)

Organisation and aims

Diagolon is a right wing,[1] alt-right,[2] extremist[3] militia network with chapters throughout Canada.[1] It has been described in a report by the House of Commons of Canada as a "violent extremist organisation."[4] According to the Canadian Anti-Hate Network the "neo-fascist militia"[5] The Group believes that "a violent revolution is coming,"[1] and is an "accelerationist movement that believes a revolution is inevitable and necessary to collapse the current government system. It wants to build its ideal nation-state, which runs diagonally from Alaska through the western provinces down to Florida".[5] A member of Diagolon, Alex Vriend, was noted by the Canadian Anti-Hate Network as "one of the most outspoken and influential members" and was reported to be an antisemite and a Holocaust denier.[6] Barbara Perry, director of Ontario Tech University's Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism, described Diagolon's ambition to create a "white ethnonationalist state" which would "run diagonally from the Pacific Northwest through Canada to Florida".[7] as irony poisoning to normalise hateful rhetoric through humour.[3] The group's motto is “gun or rope".[6]

History

The group emerged from the Plaid Army, according to the Canadian Anti-Hate Network[3] who also report that the group was started by Jeremy MacKenzie in 2020.[8]

The group's flag was present at the Canada convoy protest in Ottawa.[9] Following the seizure of weapons, ammunition, and body armour from the property of a murder conspiracy plot suspect during the protest blockade of the Sweetgrass–Coutts Border Crossing, one piece of body armour was identified to have Diagolon patches.[10][1] In February 2023, Paul Rouleau described Diagolon's presence at both the Ottawa and Coutts protests as "the most troubling connection between protest locations" in his report following the Public Order Emergency Commission into the use of the Emergencies Act.[11]

In 2022 Pierre Poilievre called Diagolon members "losers" and "dirtbags" after they had discussed raping Anaida Poilievre, his wife, on a podcast. Poilievre had previously been photographed shaking hands with Jeremy MacKenzie.[12] Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino stated that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were "reviewing" the rape statement.[13]

References
  1. Macfarlane, Bill (February 15, 2022). "Analysis of guns and ammunition seized near Coutts, Alta. blockade". CTV News. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  2. "Diagolon leader Jeremy Mackenzie denied bail on Sask. assault, weapons charges". The Star Phoenix. October 7, 2022. Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  3. Somos, Christy (February 17, 2022). "What is the Diagolon extremist group and what does it want?". CTV News. Archived from the original on November 14, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  4. Levy, Bryn (November 28, 2022). "Diagolon leader Jeremy Mackenzie granted bail in Saskatchewan". The Star Phoenix. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  5. Tran, Paula (February 15, 2022). "Anti-hate experts concerned about possible neo-fascist involvement at Alberta trucker convoy | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Archived from the original on October 2, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  6. Smith, Peter (January 11, 2022). "A Holocaust Denier Is Travelling Across Canada Building Up The Country's Newest Far-Right Militia Movement". Canadian Anti-Hate Network. Archived from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  7. Raycraft, Richard (September 26, 2022). "RCMP investigating rape threat against Pierre Poilievre's wife". CBC News. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  8. Smith, Peter; Kriner, Matthew (June 8, 2022). "The Diagolon Movement And Militant Accelerationism". Canadian Anti-Hate Network. Archived from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  9. Ho, Solarina (March 1, 2022). "Honking, fumes and anger: Mental toll from trucker protest lingers for Ottawa residents". CTV News. Archived from the original on July 26, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  10. Grant, Meghan (February 17, 2022). "Coutts arrests: new details on the men and women charged in border blockade". CBC News. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  11. Dryden, Joel; Grant, Meghan (February 17, 2023). "Border protests in Coutts, Alta., a 'concrete manifestation' of risk to Canada: Rouleau". CBC News. Archived from the original on February 21, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  12. "Poilievre denounces Diagolon 'losers' over threat of sexual assault against his wife". nationalpost. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  13. "Poilievre denounces Diagolon 'losers' over threat of sexual assault against his wife, RCMP 'reviewing'". CTVNews. September 26, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
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