No Borders MediaThe verdict in the hate trial of neo-Nazi and Daily Stormer propagandist Gabriel Sohier Chaput (aka Zeiger) is scheduled to be announced at Montreal's Courthouse this morning. @nobordersmedia will be in court and providing updates in this space. #cdnpoli #antifa #polmtl #antifascism
Judge is reading highlights of his decision now. He begins decision with a quote from Erma Bobeck: "There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt."
Judge quotes at length from the article that Zeiger admits writing in part; that hateful article is linked here: https://bit.ly/3IAWAxE
By reading the article at length, we are able to hear the words of Chaim Kornfeld, a 91-year-old Jewish Holocaust survivor, who is mocked in the article by Zeiger and the Daily Stormer. Kornfeld's words are an important antidote, and it's important his words were read.
But the judge mangles Chaim Kornfeld's first name. Everyone, especially a Holocaust survivor, deserves to have their name pronounced correctly, especially such a beautiful name that means "life". We regret not interrupting the judge about this.
The judge is still summarizing the applicable case law, so we'll give some of our own analysis while waiting for the verdict (in case of neo-Nazi and Daily Stormer contributor Zeiger) ...
Whether Zeiger is found "guilty" or "not guilty" - and, either verdict is possible, with the almost certainty of an appeal by whichever side "loses" - there are a couple of points that are essential to emphasize ...
First & foremost: It was the steadfast work of anonymous anti-fascist organizers, with the support of anti-fascist inclined journalists, that was directly responsible for exposing the identity of Zeiger, and his prolific hateful writings and recordings ...
This work, made public back in 2018, is the main anti-fascist gain or victory here, not any decision of the flawed courts. The anti-fascist information against Zeiger is comprehensively summarized in the following article by Montreal Antifasciste: https://bit.ly/373jJYi
Gabriel Sohier Chaput, aka Zeiger: The Montreal Keyboard Nazi Who Wanted to be Goebbels - Montréal-Antifasciste
On May 4, 2018, the Montreal Gazette published the first of a series of articles exposing the identity of an important international neo-Nazi propagandist residing in Montréal, an individual only known up to that point by the pseudonym “Zeiger.” The journalists at the daily made public the results of an investigation conducted over many months […]
Second important point: The legal case against Zeiger has been botched, with the Montreal Police Hate Crimes Unit bearing the most responsibility for bringing forward a weak case ...
There are literally hundreds of hateful articles that Zeiger wrote, but this case comes down to a couple of lines in just one article. Never was it established by the prosecution that the Daily Stormer is a neo-Nazi website, while Zeiger's defence was that he engages in parody.
To give another one of many possible examples of this botched case: While testifying under oath, Zeiger was able to deny knowing the meaning of 1488, with impunity.
Back to what is happening in court today: The judge is still summarizing his decision; no verdict yet.
The judge admonishes Zeiger's defence lawyer - Hélène Poussard - for distorting historical events around World War II. To paraphrase the judge (who is speaking in French): "Certain comments by the defence lawyer don't belong in a court of law." This is tough language.
The judge's name is Manlio Del Negro. The prosecutor is Patrick Lafrenière. Zeiger is present in court, sitting in the witness box, while the court is packed with anti-fascists here to observe the proceedings, as well as journalists and Jewish community members.
The judge, still summarizing his decision, states with some emphasis that (paraphrasing from the original French): The facts around World War II, including the Holocaust, are incontestable, established historically & documented, not something to debate between reasonable people.
The judge rejects wholly the arguments put forward by the defence questioning or debating aspects of World War II.
Judge says that the quotes that Zeiger admits writing in his article can be interpreted as inciting people to action, and can be interpreted as inciting violence. The judge emphasizes the phrase "non-stop Nazism everywhere" that Zeiger wrote.
Again, for reference, the article in question is linked here: https://bit.ly/3IAWAxE ... Zeiger admits writing most of the first part of it, including the sentence: "Non-stop Nazism, everywhere, until the very streets are flooded with the tears of our enemies."
The judge says Zeiger has camouflaged his true intentions behind the excuse of satire and parody. The pronouncement of a guilty verdict is imminent.
Judge is going over aspects of the article that Zeiger denies writing; Zeiger asserted that Andrew Anglin added the following anti-Semitic and hateful line: "We definitely need to bring back this ancestral tradition of calling these Christ-killers “stinky Jews” on the street."
The judge has just rejected Zeiger distancing himself from the rest of the article, and does not find his excuses credible. Judge is asserting that Zeiger wrote the entire article; again, official guilty verdict is imminent.
Judge is now reading hateful headlines from Daily Stormer articles as well as titles from Zeiger podcasts. The content of these articles and podcasts were never put into evidence (bizarrely) but the judge can at least quote from the titles.
Judge is continuing summarizing his decision; he is dismissing Zeiger's excuses and explanations under oath. The judge is quote comprehensively dismissing Zeiger's "camouflage" of satire and parody.
For the past two hours, Gabriel Sohier Chaput (aka Zeiger) has been sitting in front of this judge while he essentially dismisses Chaput's credibilty, and portrays him as a hateful Nazi. Still no official verdict yet, since judge is continuing to go over all aspects of defence..
The hateful article written by Zeiger begins with: "2017 will be the year of action." Recall that 2017, among other things, would be the year of Charlottesville (and the murder of anti-racist Heather Heyer) ...
Zeiger was present in Charlottesville (which is one of the reasons his identity would be exposed) and along with other neo-Nazis and racists, he chanted anti-Semitic and racist slogans in Charlottesville (captured on video). That never made it into the evidence.
Gabriel Sohier Chaput (aka Zeiger) - neo-Nazi and contributor the Daily Stormer website - has just been declared guilty, beyond a reasonable doubt, of willfully inciting hate against an identifiable group (Jewish people) by Judge Manlio Del Negro at Montreal's Courthouse.
Beyond the verdict, we emphasize that it was the steadfast work of anonymous anti-fascist organizers, with the support of anti-fascist inclined journalists, that was directly responsible for exposing the identity of Zeiger, and his prolific hateful writings and recordings ...
This anti-fascist research, made public back in 2018, is the main anti-fascist "victory", not any decision of the flawed courts. The anti-fascist information against Zeiger is comprehensively summarized in the following article by @MontrealAntifa: https://bit.ly/373jJYi
Gabriel Sohier Chaput, aka Zeiger: The Montreal Keyboard Nazi Who Wanted to be Goebbels - Montréal-Antifasciste
On May 4, 2018, the Montreal Gazette published the first of a series of articles exposing the identity of an important international neo-Nazi propagandist residing in Montréal, an individual only known up to that point by the pseudonym “Zeiger.” The journalists at the daily made public the results of an investigation conducted over many months […]
Catching up on Zeiger trial and verdict updates ... It got quite dramatic, and isn't over yet ...
Gabriel Sohier Chaput (aka Zeiger) - neo-Nazi and contributor the Daily Stormer website - has been declared guilty, beyond a reasonable doubt, of willfully inciting hate against an identifiable group (Jewish people) by Judge Manlio Del Negro at Montreal's Courthouse.
The judge ordered the court constable to put Zeiger into custody while waiting for an official sentencing hearing. This is quite dramatic. Zeiger's lawyer objects forcefully.
Judge rejects defence arguments. Judge declares Zeiger an imminent danger to the public and orders him put into custody. Gabriel Sohier Chaput is being put into handcuffs and put into custody.
Defence lawyer asked judge if he is putting her client (Zeiger) into custody because she made a complaint about the judge. This is the first time we are learning about this complaint.
Court is postponed until 2pm when there will be arguments on Zeiger's sentencing.