Greece's Golden Dawn opens Canadian branch in Montreal

Montreal - Golden Dawn (Chrysi Avgi) the ultra-nationalist Greek political party that has recently soared in popularity, has now expanded its overseas branches, opening a chapter in Montreal, QC.

With an established support base in both Melbourne and New York, Golden Dawn has now attracted a small following in Montreal. Xryshavgh made an announcement on their web-site on Sept. 18 saying the core of Golden Dawn supporters in Montreal proves once more the precious dedication to deserving Greeks. In addition to appealing for food, toys and other basic goods, the party noted that it gained courage from the Greek diaspora to continue their efforts to help every homeless, needy Greek countryman who is poor. The National Post reported the Montreal chapter opened in September and has already collected food, medicines and clothing to send to the groups headquarters in Athens to distribute to needy Greeks. The party has been criticized for collecting necessities for Greek citizens only, a stance Canadian leader Jimmy James justifies by saying “It’s a problem when a Greek is starving in his own country.” Thus far Golden Dawn has only established a small support group in Canada, with deputy leader Spiros Macrozonaris citing just 152 members. Canadian supporters reiterate the party's assertion that they are not neo-Nazis, a charge repeatedly bandied in the press but denied by the party that maintains it is nationalistic. The party openly campaigns for the deportation of illegal immigrants which Jimmy James supports. He said: “Illegal immigrants, they put knives to old ladies’ throats. They’re taking over our homes. The police are doing nothing about it which has turned Athens into a ghetto." He went on to say "Nobody wants to see blood spilled. But that’s what it’s starting to look like. It looks like it’s leading to a civil war.” There are almost daily reports in the international press allegedly linking Golden Dawn with attacks against immigrants. Reports of Greek victims of immigrant crime go largely unreported. Meanwhile Montreal's Facho Watch has established a small anti-racism committee to protest the presence of Golden Dawn and make them unwelcome.