The Canadian Anti-Hate Network is drawing negative attention to an Anglican priest slated to speak in Canada, given he made a mock-Nazi salute at an event last January.
Calvin Robinson made the gesture during the 2025 National Pro-Life Summit on January 25.
Robinson is slated to speak on May 9 at the annual March for Life in Ottawa, Ontario at the invitation of Campaign Life Coalition (CLC). He is also one of two keynote speakers scheduled to speak at the event's youth summit the Ottawa Conference and Events Centre, organized by CLC’s youth wing and Niagara Region Right to Life.
The Anti-Hate Network posted an article on its website entitled, "Anti-Abortion Lobby Bringing Priest Who Gave Nazi Salute To Canada For Youth Conference."
The article called Robinson "the lead spokesperson for the Eurosceptic, far-right United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP)" and said he made "a motion" that was "[s]ometimes referred to as a Roman or Nazi salute," used in fascist Italy and Germany.
"In a move meant to mimic the gesture made by Elon Musk — where the world’s richest man told a crowd he was giving 'my heart' to them and proceeded to make an arm gesture similar to the salute used in Hitler’s Germany — Robinson told the summit 'My heart goes out to you,' and then made the arm motion," the article explained.
In an email to the Western Standard, Pete Baklinski, Director of Communications for CLC, complained about the characterization.
"They falsely accuse him in their headline of giving a 'Nazi salute' even though the article makes it clear that Robinson made a 'mocking' gesture that was meant to "mimic the gesture made by Elon Musk," Baklinski said.
"CAHN is clearly not a good actor here. It published this piece even after admitting to us in emails that they 'certainly understand that Fr. Robinson is not a secret National Socialist.' The headline is a complete lie. Robinson did not give such a salute."
In comments to Blacklock's Reporter, Evan Balgord, executive director of of the Anti-Hate Network, acknowledged his organization contacted the events centre. "It was to provide the venue the opportunity to comment," said.
Balgord did not respond to questions from Blacklock's on why the venue was expected to comment on their rental practices nor if the Anti-Hate network had sought to have the event cancelled.
The Anglican Church has already cancelled Robinson from shepherding a parish in Grand Rapids, Michigan, given his activism.
A February 2 statement from the Church said, “His bishops made it clear to him that he had been received into the Church to minister to a parish, and as such, he would have to eschew the provocative political behaviour that characterized his prior career as a TV presenter, blogger, and social media influencer.”
The Church added, “We believe that those who mimic the Nazi salute, even as a joke or an attempt to troll their opponents, trivialize the horror of the Holocaust and diminish the sacrifice of those who fought against its perpetrators. Such actions are harmful, divisive, and contrary to the tenets of Christian charity.”
As the Anti-Hate Network acknowledged, Robinson defended himself in a post to Facebook, saying, “For the record, in case it needs saying: I am not a Nazi…The joke at the end was a mockery of the hysterical ‘liberals’ who called Elon Musk a Nazi for quite clearly showing the audience his heart was with them. Context is key, but sometimes people ignore context to confirm their own prejudices. People see what they want to see."
Baklinski said the idea the black man was a Nazi was "ridiculous." Baklinski said Robinson had over 500,000 followers on X because he was "a very good communicator."
"Calvin Robinson has been very outspoken on especially the pro-life issues. He is provocative. He has a way of delivering his speeches which are very convincing and very moving to young people," Baklinski explained.
"He's great on social conservative issues. He is not afraid to stand up for the truths of biblical marriage, the truths of life, especially when it comes to the the abortion issue. He's just right on target regarding all these issues, and he speaks out strongly and convincingly. And we need young people to hear those types of arguments, to not be swayed by the other perspective."
On April 1, 2024, the Network received $200,000 from the Department of Public Safety for "research on far-right organizing in Canada." A separate grant of $440,000 came from the Department of Canadian Heritage for "anti-racism initiatives."
The Anti-Hate Network asked the Commons finance committee in 2023 for $5 million over five years but was turned down.
With files from Blacklock's Reporter.
