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Earlier today (January 29), concerned residents of New Westminster and other Lower Mainland communities gathered at Hyack Square for an anti-fascist rally, in response to neo-Nazi flyers that were discovered at a bus stop in the city last week.

Approximately 100 people showed up at the square to march down Columbia Street towards the Columbia SkyTrain station.

Before the march began, the Straight spoke with rally organizer Imtiaz Popat.

Popat is also a founding member of the newly formed Coalition Against Bigotry - Pacific. The coalition rallied in Abbotsford last weekend.

"It [New Westminster] is a safe community, but they are here. There's a store just down the street, a surplus store that sells neo-Nazi flags, so we're really concerned," said Popat.

The organizer said he and many other Lower Mainland residents are concerned, "now that neo-Nazi propaganda has crossed the river from cities like Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and Mission, to New Westminster and Richmond."

He added that another reason for the rally was to let authorities know that communities need to be protected from hate speech and other potentially violent acts.

"Yes, there is anti-hate legislation, but yet they are still doing this. We want to feel safe," he said.

Popat said the coalition's mission going forward is to grow the group and to spread the message that neo-Nazism of any kind is not welcome in cities in the Lower Mainland and beyond.

"We want to build a coalition against this kind of hate that is against, women, against people of colour, against gays and lesbians, because this is what they are about," Popat said.

"It is a broad message that we do not accept bigotry in our back yard."

Posters were displayed in New Westminster in the days leading up to the demonstration, which lasted roughly 45 minutes. Amanda Siebert

People gathered at Hyack Square at the instersection of Columbia Street and Eighth Street before the start of the march at 1:20 p.m. Amanda Siebert

Organizations like the Canada Employment and Immigration Union and the Public Service Alliance of Canada were represented at the rally. Amanda Siebert

The newly-formed Coalition Against Bigotry - Pacific organized the rally. Amanda Siebert

Approximately 100 people attended the anti-fascist demonstration. Amanda Siebert

Organizer Imtiaz Popat breifly addressed the crowd before the march down Columbia Street began. Amanda Siebert

Rally participants listened to a short message from Imtiaz Popat before marching down Columbia Street. Amanda Siebert

Led by police cruisers, a crowd marched down Columbia Street toward Columbia Station in Downtown New Westminster. Amanda Siebert

"> Rally participants carried signs reading, "End White Supremacy" and "Good Night White Pride". Amanda Siebert

A diverse crowd of residents from many different Lower Mainland communities turned out to the antifascist rally in New Westminster. Amanda Siebert

"> The crowd marched down Columbia Street's eastbound lane chanting, "Hey hey, ho ho, neo-Nazis got to go!" Amanda Siebert

Traffic was stopped breifly along Columbia Street as rally participants marched east towards Columbia SkyTrain station. Amanda Siebert