Over the years there has been a lot of discussion about the danger of platforming right wing extremists. It's an issue that I've wrestled with for years myself here on the blog and also on Twitter. On the one hand I've always believed that it was important to share information about could amount to a significant danger to the community; the best disinfectant is sunlight after all.
But as I tried to expose those individuals and groups who could cause real harm, I also tried to do so in a way that didn't give them any sort of power. A lot of these individuals and groups WANT others to talk about them because uncritical examination allows the noxious beliefs to spread more widely.
In order to try to avoid that I generally employ two primary strategies. The first is mockery. The bigots and hate groups I covered have all been so very self-serious. Using humour as a means of disarming and showing how utterly ridiculous that they are while at the same time showing the public why we should also be concerned often took the wind out of their sails, so to speak.
Also, I'm naturally snarky so there's that too.
The second thing I do which I think is far more important is to try as best I can to provide the critical context for the stories I shared (hence why I was and continue to be verbose as hell) and to avoid telling the narrative that THEY want shared.
So with that, let's engage go through that process by discussing the critical context behind this still I took from a video posted by Derek Harrison of the Plaid Army/Diagolon on his Telegram page:
 |
| Shane Marshall and Pierre Poilievre |
This photo shows Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre shaking hands with Shane Marshall. If the name "Shane Marshall" is familiar at all, it is likely because of an incident that occurred during the 2021 federal election where Marshall threw pebbles at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau:
- Trudeau hit by gravel as protesters surround campaign bus in London, Ont.
- People's Party of Canada drops riding president over stone-throwing incident at Trudeau event
- Trudeau lawyers fight subpoena for his testimony at stone-throwing trial
- Trudeau won't have to testify at trial of man accused of throwing gravel during London, Ont., campaign stop
- Trial date set for man accused of throwing gravel at Trudeau at 2021 London, Ont., event
 |
| Marshall and Tyler Russell left; Russell and Nick Fuentes right |
 |
| Marshall and Russell with Jeremy MacKenzie during the "Freedom Convoy" occupation of Ottawa, 2022 |
 |
| Shane has all the charisma of a soggy phonebook from 1992. |
 |
| Marshall and Derek Harrison flanked by two unknown Dags. |
 |
| Pictured from left to right: Derek Harrison, Maxine Bernier, Chelsea Hillier, and Tyler Russell |
 |
| MacKenzie, Bernier, Harrison |
