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Mayor caught on camera with alleged white supremicist
July 31, 2012 | Dave Gordon - Correspondent
Mayor Rob Ford with whom many describe as a white supremicist at New Year's Levee
TORONTO – The perils of being a politician mean shaking hands with and taking photos with strange and odd people. Lately, the media hopped on the peculiar incident of President Bill Clinton caught mugging on film with two (clothed) professional strippers at an event. President Clinton claimed not to know who these admirers were.
Last week, it was Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s turn to see himself in a photo with an unusual character. This time, it was a posed photo with what many describe as a vocal white supremicist.
Taking during the 2012 New Year’s Levee at Toronto City Hall, the photo of Mayor Ford with Jon Latvis – who is dressed in a military uniform – was recently making its rounds on the Internet and in media reports, and originally appeared on a blog called Anti-Racist Canada.
When Ford makes a public appearance, he can meet hundreds of citizens, said his office. The law of averages say that, after almost two years in elected office, he’s bound to rub elbows with some unsavory characters, the majority of whom he does not know, nor is he aware of their political leanings.
After the initial photograph in January of this year, Latvis requested a meeting with Ford – one of countless similar requests made by citizens to the Mayor’s office. In March they met briefly to discuss Latvis’ concerns with transit issues, the Mayor’s office said.
However, according to the office, in January and March the name that Latvis used to identify himself was different. Until now, neither the mayor nor his office were aware of Latvis’ ideology, beliefs or comments against any group of people, said the Mayor’s office statement.
Reports say that Latvis is a lead guitarist in heavy metal group Rahowa – short for Racial Holy War – a euphemism used by white supremicists describing their hope for a war against Jews and other races they believe to be inferior.
Another band, Aryan, has played alongside Rahowa.
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