Toronto Terrorism Attack: Canada’s Misogyny And The Alt-Right

Toronto van attack memorial
Oaktree b/Wikimedia Creative Commons
Toronto van attack memorial
Oaktree b/Wikimedia Creative Commons

Toronto Terrorism Attack: Canada’s Misogyny And The Alt-Right

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Ten people are dead after 25 year-old Alek Minassian allegedly drove a rental van through a busy pedestrian thoroughfare in Toronto on Monday. Minassian surrendered to police shortly afterward. Though he brandished what appeared to be a gun and said he had a gun, the police officer confronting Minassian is being lauded for not shooting him. Also on Monday, Alexandre Bissonnette, the shooter behind a 2017 mosque attack in Quebec City, appeared for sentencing in a Canadian court. Bissonnette was actively engaging with far-right wing American and Canadian personalities like Ben Shapiro and Alex Jones.

Both Minassian and Bissonnette are accused of expressing misogynist sentiments in right-wing corners of the internet. Most of Minassian’s victims were women, according to Toronto police. Neither Minassian nor Bissonnette are likely face terrorism charges. Canadian right-wing pundits insist Minassian, likely of Armenian ancestry, was not white, and therefore is a terrorist. To discuss, we’re joined by Jesse Brown, a Toronto-based journalist and media critic. He’s also publisher of the Canadaland podcast network and co-authored the book The Canadaland Guide to Canada — a humorous look at Canada’s dark side.