Plaid Army Explained

The Plaid Army is a group of Canadian internet live streamers known for their far right politics. The group has been accused by the Canadian Anti-Hate Network of Islamophobia and anti-semitism.[1]

Activities and views

The Plaid Army is a group of far right internet trolls.[2] The Canadian Anti-Hate Network describe the group as racist and antisemitic.[3]

Membership and associations

The Ontario Provincial Police reported connections between the Plaid Army and the "Patriot Movement" who are known for their "opposition of provincial and federal government responses to the COVID-19 public health crisis.” The group is also associated with the far-right protest group Diagalon.[4] People connected to both groups were present at the Canada convoy protests.[5]

Members include right-wing video bloggers Jeremy MacKenzie and Derek Harrison.[6] [7] Harrison wanted the convoy protests to be akin to the January 6 United States Capitol attack. MacKenzie oversees the group.[8] [9]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Boutilier . Alex . 21 Oct 2022 . Ontario police considered 'covert' surveillance of anti-government group ahead of Freedom Convoy - National Globalnews.ca . 2022-11-20 . Global News . en-US . November 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221120003526/https://globalnews.ca/news/9217463/opp-covert-surveillance-anti-government-group/ . live .
  2. Web site: Ling . Justin . 2022-03-19 . Was it really about vaccine mandates — or something darker? The inside story of the convoy protests . 2022-11-20 . thestar.com . en . March 19, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220319162927/https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/03/19/was-it-really-about-vaccine-mandates-or-something-darker-the-inside-story-of-the-convoy-protests.html . live .
  3. Web site: Somos . Christy . 2022-02-17 . What is the Diagolon extremist group and what does it want? . 2022-11-20 . CTVNews . en . November 14, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221114211944/https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/what-is-the-diagolon-extremist-group-and-what-does-it-want-1.5785646 . live .
  4. Web site: LeFeche . Grant . 2022-01-28 . 'Freedom Convoy' leader shared symbol of far-right hate group on TikTok . 2022-11-20 . thestar.com . en . November 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221120003522/https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/01/28/freedom-convoy-leader-shared-symbol-of-far-right-hate-group-on-tiktok.html . live .
  5. Web site: Gilmore . Rachel . 15 Nov 2022 . RCMP warned of 'potential for violence' from extremists amid convoy: memo - National Globalnews.ca . 2022-11-20 . Global News . en-US . November 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221120003526/https://globalnews.ca/news/9278575/emergencies-act-inquiry-brenda-lucki-testifies/ . live .
  6. Web site: 2022-01-26 . Plaid Army vlogger Derek Harrison wants truckers convoy to turn into Canada's own January 6th event . 2022-11-20 . The Georgia Straight . en . November 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221120003532/https://www.straight.com/news/plaid-army-vlogger-derek-harrison-wants-truckers-convoy-to-turn-into-canadas-own-january-6th . live .
  7. Web site: Smith . Charlie . 2022-02-07 . Plaid Army vlogger Jeremy MacKenzie claims that the Mounties are planning mass arrests of Ottawa protesters . 2022-11-20 . The Georgia Straight . en . November 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221108203556/https://www.straight.com/covid-19-pandemic/news/plaid-army-vlogger-jeremy-mackenzie-claims-that-mounties-are-planning-mass-arrests-of-ottawa . live .
  8. Web site: Kaufmann . Bill . 17 Feb 2022 . 'This is a war': Arrested Coutts protesters say they were being provoked by RCMP . 2022-11-20 . calgaryherald . en-CA . March 6, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220306012657/https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/this-is-a-war-arrested-coutts-protesters-say-they-were-being-provoked-by-rcmp . live .
  9. Web site: Taylor . Scott . 28 Feb 2022 . Rolling protest that occupied Ottawa was hijacked from the start . 2022-11-20 . The Hill Times . en-CA . November 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221120003526/https://www.hilltimes.com/story/2022/02/28/rolling-protest-that-occupied-ottawa-was-hijacked-from-the-start/270292/ . live .