Toronto (May 11, 2021) - Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) was notified of Hitler Youth and Confederate flags displayed at a property near Breton, Alberta over the weekend - just a few days after learning about a Nazi flag at another property near the village of Boyle.

FSWC reached out to Breton RCMP to file a criminal complaint after being alerted to the flags by a local resident on Sunday. RCMP have confirmed they had spoken to the property owner and that the property owner has refused to take down the flags. FSWC is urging police to launch a hate crime investigation.

"It is extremely disturbing and quite disheartening to once again see a Hitler Youth flag, as well as the Confederate flag, on display," said Jaime Kirzner-Roberts, FSWC's Director of Policy. "These displays of hate go against the values that Canada stands for and are an attack on not only the Jewish and Black communities, but also on our veterans and fallen soldiers who made unspeakable sacrifices to defeat the Nazis and preserve our freedoms."

It is illegal in Canada to engage in the willful promotion of hatred.

FSWC has also written to the local county council, alerting them to the problem and asking that they work with law enforcement to ensure the flags are removed.

"We urge police to investigate this incident as a hate crime and for community leaders to send a message loud and clear that hate will not be tolerated in their community," Kirzner-Roberts added.