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A candidate vying for the UCP nomination in Edmonton-West Henday knew who Soldiers of Odin were when he spoke with members of the group at a party pub night, but he’s not considering dropping out of the race.

“(The Soldiers of Odin) weren’t inciting violence, they weren’t inciting hate. They were acting friendly, they were people just having a beer who wanted to have a conversation, so I talked to them,” Lance Coulter told media Wednesday night before a candidate forum at Hyatt Place.

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“I don’t agree with everything they stand for. Nevertheless, people have a constitutional right to voice their opinions, and I’m not going to deny them that.”

The furor began Friday night, when members of Soldiers of Odin — an anti-immigration, white nationalist organization — showed up at a UCP Edmonton-West Henday constituency association pub night.

Coulter and his competitors Leila Houle and Nicole Williams were photographed with members of the organization who were wearing Soldiers of Odin vests and hats.