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Nazis are VICTIMS of hate crime? Police launch probe into graffiti on monument to SS soldiers, Canadians stunned it even exists
News that graffiti on a memorial to Nazi soldiers is being treated as a “hate crime” has stunned many Canadians, who were not only baffled by the police’s logic but also seemingly unaware that their country hosted such a monument.
The object in question, which was erected for Ukrainian nationalists who fought for the Nazis as part of the infamous 1st Galician Division of the SS during World War II, had been defaced in late June.
Located at the Saint Volodymyr Ukrainian Cemetery in Oakville, Ontario, the cenotaph reportedly had the words “Nazi war monument” painted on it some weeks ago – pretty accurately describing the essence of this particular memorial.
A hate crime investigation into the incident was launched by the police several days later. Law enforcement opted against releasing photos of the graffiti to the public to prevent “further spreading” of the message. Moss Robeson, a researcher writing about the actions of the Ukrainian Nazi collaborators in North America, was one of the first to notice the controversial probe and post about it on Twitter earlier this month.
Police in Ontario are investigating some recent vandalism at a local cemetery as a "hate motivated offense" but not releasing images "to prevent further spreading of the suspect’s message"—that this memorial for the Galician (
