White Nationalist Books Planted in Little Free Libraries Across Ottawa

Copies of a book promoting white nationalist ideology have been placed in community-run library boxes in neighbourhoods in parts of Ottawa, prompting a police investigation.

Christine Young found several copies earlier this month when she decided to check out a few little free libraries near her home in Barrhaven.

Little free libraries are put at the curbside by homeowners and are an invitation for anyone to leave and take a book.

Young, a federal government consultant, never expected to repeatedly come across the same book — one that denounces immigration, multiculturalism, advocates for a white ethnostate in which racialized communities would be classified as second class citizens.

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The book is written by an American author known for publishing works promoting white nationalist ideology.

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Young reported her findings to the Ottawa Police Service (OPS), which has since launched a hate crime investigation.

CBC found that seven out of 10 little libraries in the Barrhaven and River wards contained the text.

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Barbara Perry, director of Ontario Tech University’s Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism, said the book is an attempt to normalize white nationalist ideologies.

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While the book does not contain “a call for outright violence” or “a call for extermination of communities,” Perry said it aims to frame far-right talking points in a more persuasive way than some of the “shock troops” of the movement.

Hector Addison, the founder of the African Canadian Association of Ottawa, said he’s “deeply concerned” by the circulation of the book throughout the city.

“It’s not just offensive, it’s dangerous. It fuels racism and fear in our city, and we cannot stand by and allow hate to take root in our communities,” Addison said. “I’m appalled by such behaviour.”

Addison believes there should be consequences for whoever is responsible and said he was particularly disappointed the incident occurred during Black History Month.

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