Jail for ‘vile’ hate speech against Jewish community

Man lauded ‘Final Solution’ in calls

WATERLOO REGION — A man who incited fear and hate, harassing the local Jewish community with phone calls and “vile” emails, was sentenced to 18 months in jail.

In his judgment on Monday, Justice Gregory Pockele said it was incumbent upon him to send a message to society that Ralph Boeck’s behaviour would not be accepted.

“We don’t tolerate this in Canada,” Pockele said. “As Canadians, we don’t want this.”

Boeck, 59, who has been in custody since his arrest last December, will serve an additional nine months and then be on probation for three years. He was credited for time already served.

Ten members of the local Jewish community, including those with the Beth Jacob Synagogue in Kitchener, were in court for Boeck’s sentencing.

“I respect the justice and his decision,” Rabbi Nevo Zuckerman said outside the courtroom. Zuckerman was one of three people targeted by Boeck.

Pockele repeatedly called Boeck’s comments vile and hateful, and said there is no place for that kind of speech in a modern, pluralist world.

In his messages, Boeck said Adolf Hitler was right and lauded Hitler’s Final Solution, the Nazi plan to exterminate Jews during the Second World War.

After a two-day trial, Pockele found Boeck guilty. Boeck was convicted of three counts of criminal harassment in connection to phone messages and sending emails to three men — Zuckerman, local lawyer and small claims judge Mark Grossman and lawyer William Cline. Cline is not Jewish.

Pockele said Boeck was warned by Waterloo Regional Police twice to stop calling and emailing the victims, but he persisted.

“The police warned you off and you didn’t listen,” he said.

“You cannot plead ignorance.”

We don’t tolerate this in Canada. As Canadians, we don’t want this. JUSTICE GREGORY POCKELE

Pockele said Boeck did not threaten violence but by repeatedly contacting the synagogue and the others, and espousing human extermination theories, the victims felt threatened.

“You have no respect for the law,” he said.

Pockele told Boeck it was his right to have his thoughts, and to be a member of the New Constitution Party of Canada and associate with people who share his views.

On its home page, the New Constitution Party of Canada describes itself as a political movement that “incorporates the intellect of Dr. Ron Paul, the heart of chancellor Adolf Hitler.”

But Boeck does not have freedom to actively harass people, Pockele said.

“You have a lack of respect for your fellow Canadian citizens,” said Pockele, who’s voice got louder as he addressed Boeck.

Pockele said Boeck’s troubling comments were frightening for the victims and shook “their sense of feeling safe.”

Pockele said Boeck failed to understand that he harassed the victims and did not appreciate the harm he caused them and others in the Jewish community.

“That is your offence sir,” said Pockele, looking at Boeck in the prisoner’s box.

He said Boeck lacked remorse and didn’t feel guilt or shame for his actions. He said that during the trial Boeck tried to couch his actions as a “scientific, rational individual on a quest for truth.”

Before he was sentenced, Boeck addressed the court and said his intention was not to hurt anyone.

Boeck, who said he was interested in mathematical lectures, was asking questions but wasn’t getting any answers.

He said he was respectful and kind to the victims.

He did not apologize for his behaviour.

“I’m a rational being,” he said. “If they don’t want to contact me, I can respect that.”

Court heard that Boeck has mental health issues and suffers from bipolar disorder.

In his victim impact statement, Zuckerman said he was initially conflicted by Boeck’s messages and wanted to “blow off” the concerns.

But he became worried for his safety and others at the synagogue because of the ongoing rants.

“In this world why would someone have so much hate?” he said. “His persistence frightened me.”

Crown prosecutor Mark Poland said Boeck’s record showed a “significant” history of violence with previous convictions related to threats.

Poland said Boeck’s messages were “utterly vile and odious.” He referenced Nazi ideology and suggested Jewish people were of “flawed composition.”

Poland said the Jewish community has faced persecution for hundreds of years and Boeck’s actions “brought all that history to date.”