George Burdi - Reckzin Incident

Reckzin Incident

In Ottawa, on May 29, 1993, after a RaHoWa concert which was picketed by Anti-Racist Action protesters, Burdi and the leader of the White Nationalist Heritage Front, Wolfgang Droege, led their supporters on a march to Parliament Hill. As the White nationalists marched, they chanted sieg heil, made racist remarks, and gave Roman Salutes. Burdi directed the group, and gave media interviews.

At Parliament Hill, Burdi and Droege addressed their followers with the express purpose of trying to raise the emotional pitch of the evening. Burdi then led the White nationalists to the Chateau Laurier. Once there, Burdi charged across the street to confront the protesters.

One of the victims of that charge was Alicia Reckzin, who was struck on the head while running from Burdi's supporters. When she fell, she was kicked several times on her right side; Reckzin later reported having seen Burdi kick her in the face.

In 1995, as a result of the violent confrontation, George Burdi was convicted of assault causing bodily harm, and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. Burdi appealed both his conviction and the sentence, but on February 14, 1997, the Court of Appeal for Ontario upheld the lower court's 1995 decision (O.J. No. 554 No. C21788/C21820), and Burdi began his sentence.

Upon completion of his sentence, Burdi - who maintains to this day that he did not personally assault Reckzin - announced that he had seen the "error" of his ways, and then renounced racism, yet has made attempts as of late to get closer to the movement again, in an appeal to get people out of the Skinhead lifestyle. He sold Resistance Records to Willis Carto; Carto in turn sold the company to William Luther Pierce of the National Alliance.