Alberta NDP candidate Rod Loyola (Edmonton-Ellerslie) walked with the Communist Party of Canada Edmonton Club during a parade. ."I've spoken to thousands of residents here in Edmonton-Ellerslie since I became the candidate, and it’s disturbing but not surprising to see the Alberta NDP participating in a pro-communism march,” said Alberta United Conservative Party candidate Ranjit Bath (Edmonton-Ellerslie) in a Tuesday statement. .“This extreme, far-left ideology runs rampant in Rachel Notley’s NDP, but these views do not represent the good, hard-working people of Edmonton-Ellerslie.”.Loyola can be spotted at the front of the delegation, wearing a black hat, jacket, and track pants. His face looked forward as he marched. .A number of people were walking with him, looking off to the side. A few of them carried black and red pro-communism flags, and one of them was strumming a ukulele..It is unknown what year the photo was taken..Bath acknowledged he has run a campaign “focused on affordability, freedom, and making the Edmonton-Ellerslie community the best place in Alberta to raise a family.” He said these values are "shared by the Albertans I speak to here in Edmonton-Ellerslie, and Mr. Loyola's decision to sympathize with communists is an affront to many residents of this riding who have fled communism and found a new home in Alberta." .Loyola performed as a pro-communism rapper in 2007, where he called for a revolution against capitalism and lionized communist leaders such as Che Guevara and Fidel Castro. .“Throwin' it down like a real revolutionary, climbing mountains like Guevara, attacking like Fidel at the Moncada, yellin' victory on horseback into Santa Clara,” he said. .“AK to the sky as I cross la frontera La Pachamama es mi Tierra.” .Alberta UCP candidate Rebecca Schulz (Calgary-Shaw) called on Notley to remove candidates such as Loyola for not supporting police on April 5. .READ MORE: WATCH: Schulz requests Notley drop NDP candidates over anti-police comments, actions.“I think first of all that we need to hear from these candidates what they meant by their comments,” said Schulz. .He said in a since-deleted tweet working for the Edmonton Police Service “gives you the right to beat up citizens and not have to face criminal charges.” . Loyola could not be reached for comment in time for publication.
