Battle at Old Market Square

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The Battle at Old Market Square was an anti-fascist protest on 5 June 1934 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

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Members of the Canadian Nationalist Party (CNP) planned a rally at the Old Market Square, in Winnipeg's Exchange District. An estimated 75 to 100 sympathizers of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini gathered there. [1] The event was "a public provocation aimed at the organized labor movement, Jews, and minority communities". [2] Five hundred protesters from various anti-fascist groups converged on the rally. At least 20 CNP members were injured, and police arrested seven as they suppressed the confrontation. [2]

The battle "demonstrated the successful and deeply rooted popular resistance to fascist provocations" in Winnipeg. After that, the CNP held no further public meetings. The effect was lasting: "no fascist group in the city would ever find itself in a position to mount such public campaigns of discrimination". [2]

See also

References

  1. Ryan Thorpe (19 November 2021). "Inside the war on hate". Winnipeg Free Press.
  2. 1 2 3 Helmut-Harry Loewen (2009). "Battle at Old Market Square, Winnipeg, 1934". International Encyclopedia of Revolution and Protest. Blackwell via Canadian Anti-racism Network.

Further reading