The Hells are displayed at the fair of Saint-Hyacinthe

Photo special collaboration, Magalie Lapointe
The booth with the colors of the ’81 Montreal” (that is to say, of the Hells Angels) did not go unnoticed at the Expo de Saint-Hyacinthe, between a canteen of hot dogs and a merchant of fruit and vegetables. Bikers rule there would have even been seen.

Magalie Lapointe

Wednesday, August 2, 2017 06:30

UPDATE
Wednesday, August 2, 2017 06:30

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SAINT-HYACINTHE | The Hells Angels take a stand in the heart of the largest agricultural fair in Quebec to sell promotional items in their own image.

A trailer in the colours of “Support 81 Montreal” installed at the Expo de Saint-Hyacinthe, from July 27. The number 81 represents the initials of the criminal group the Hells Angels. The ” 8 “is the eighth letter of the alphabet,” h “, and the digit ” 1 “for the first, either the” a “.

The Hells Angels are well known in Quebec, in particular for their contribution to the war of the bikers who has made 165 people dead, including nine innocent victims, between 1994 and 2001. They also have the main placing on the market of the drug.

Not a problem

The Expo organizers see no problem with this as clothing with the colors of the violent group are to be sold from a dealer in fruits and vegetables and a canteen of hot dogs.

“The person in charge of the booths knew that it was the Hells Angels who wanted to rent the location. He has accepted since they do not sell anything violent. They have paid in the 224 other businesses that take a booth, ” said the communications officer, Gaston Golden.

A commitment to victims of crime, senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, believes that it is a real insult to the innocent victims of the biker.

“It is inconceivable that[we] tolerate that one makes money on the backs of the victims. […] This is a black eye to the justice system “, said Mr. Boisvenu.

The kiosk sells, among other things, caps, sweaters, jackets and sports bags.

The sellers met on the spot on Monday, had refused to give their identity and respond to questions from the Newspaper, who particularly wanted to know who would be awarded the profits of the sales. It is clear, however, according to the experts, that the Hells Angels are behind the operation.

“What are the colors of the Hells, their signature. Surely this is not a full patch that sells the items. But this is someone who has a clear mandate to bring in money to the organization, ” explained the one who was a lieutenant and advisor to the Great function of the criminal investigations during operation SharQc (Hells), the police officer retired Francis Golden.

All the more that of the Hells in the rule have been seen on the spot, according to several witnesses.

Scandal

The families and employees of the fair are also outraged at the presence of the kiosk.

“I have known most of the families of the innocent victims of organized crime, and even the system of victim assistance has dropped. For example, the family of the young Daniel Desrochers [killed at 11 years old, during the war of the bikers] has received up to $ 600, said senator Boisvenu. We should tell people to not come [to the Expo]. “

On the side of the Sûreté du Québec, it was confirmed to be on the lookout for any criminal offence. She said that checks were made to ensure that the sale of these objects was legal.

♦ More than 200 000 visitors come each year to the Expo, which ends Saturday.

Examples of products sold at the kiosk

• T-shirt 40$
  
  Photo courtesy
• 

• Bag 60$
  
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• 

• Jacket for$130
  
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• 

• Cap of$75
  
  Photo courtesy
• 

• T-shirt 40$
  
  Photo courtesy
• 

• T-shirt 40$
  
  Photo courtesy
• 

• Bag 60$
  
  Photo courtesy
• 

• Jacket for$130
  
  Photo courtesy
• 

• Cap of$75
  
  Photo courtesy
• 

• T-shirt 40$
  
  Photo courtesy
• 

A strategy to seem more sympathetic

The sale of promotional items in the colors of the Hells Angels in full fair family seems to be a strategy of the criminal group in order to convince the public that its members are not as violent as we think.

“It could be a strategy to get closer to the public. To show that they are not bad guys. It is the purpose of the message “, believes the author and former intelligence analyst at the criminal intelligence Directorate of the royal Canadian mounted police, Pierre de Champlain.

This strategy does not of yesterday, ” he recalls. The sale of promotional items of the Hells Angels had been in existence for decades.

This sale would have, however, been very little visibility in recent years, since the Hells have been wiped off the map in Quebec in the wake of the mega raid police SharQc in 2009. They have recently reorganized.

Not new

“I remember in the 1980 Hells in British Columbia, who were posing next to the children because they had contributed to charities. It was the aim to be kind in the eyes of the public, ” recalls Mr. de Champlain.

Experts in the field note that there will always be a certain interest of the population for this group of criminals.

“It arouses a certain excitement, a form of admiration in spite of criminal. There is for that glamorous it is to live on the margins in society and the glamour that is attractive, ” said the policeman, retired Francis Golden.

However, on social networks, some come to the defense of bikers, ensuring that they are fathers of families, like the others.

40th anniversary

There is also the 40th anniversary could explain an increased presence of the Hells, while the December 5, 1977, the first chapter in Canada was established at Sorel. The experts agree that the Hells always underline their anniversary and the 40th should already start to organise.

“It is a way to demonstrate to other bands of bikers, not affiliated with them they are always there and they are here to stay,” said Mr. de Champlain.

“Nothing violent,” said the Expo

The organization of the Expo, did not budge : she had no reason to refuse to Support 81 a booth because the group does not sell “nothing violent,” and has paid his license like any other.

The leaders of the Expo knew from the start that was and what it was Support 81. However, the kiosk met all of the criteria evaluated by the Expo agricole de Saint-Hyacinthe to determine whether a merchant may, or may not, have its place on the site.

Not encouraged

“The Expo does not encourage the criminal groups,” defends the director of communications Gaston Golden. “Is what you need to do a survey of 225 people who take a trade ? “he questioned.

Questions about the past crimes of the group, Mr. Golden contends that the majority of the 20,000 visitors to the website yesterday did not know that ” 81 ” represented the Hells Angels.

According to him, clear instructions have been given to the tenants of the kiosk. For example, they would have advised people that no person was to arrive with sweaters identified in a criminal group.

However, during the visit of the Newspaper, a man inside the booth was wearing a jersey of a club supporter of the Hells, the Head Hunters.

The leaders of the Expo have not received any complaint. They ensure that the vendors inside the booth shall not seek a person and are always respectful of the customer.

“It would be worse if the Expo came out these people, it wouldn’t make a good image,” said Mr. Golden.

Families and employees outraged

Many parents have been dismayed that while to see a booth promoting the Hells Angels, after having flattered a goat and ate a hot dog with their children, walking to the agricultural fair.

“We just see the animals, get out of the city and do rides. We do not pay to see the Hells Angels. They would have been able to sell their goods elsewhere, ” said, furious, Kim Letendre, mother of a 4 year old boy and a 6 year old daughter and a half, met on site on Monday.

She did not budge : this booth has no place in the Expo. The Journal spoke with several parents on the site, all furious that the leaders of the Expo have agreed to the presence of these sellers, in full knowledge of the facts.

They do not come back just not as an exhibitor to make the promotion of articles to the effigy of the Hells Angels, while families visit the agricultural fair in peace.

The money

For 180 years, the Expo agricole de Saint-Hyacinthe is a fair family. Moreover, several residents of the corner to provide a pass of the season, so you can enjoy to the maximum of 10 days of festivities.

“We preferred the money [to Support 81 Montreal] to our security,” quipped Annie Demers, a mother of a family.

With regard to the honourable senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, he understands the dissatisfaction of the families and hopes they will go complain to their member of parliament.

Moral

“It is necessary that things change. The criminals could manifest itself as easily as that, I have a problem of moral conscience with that, ” he added.

Even the employees of the Expo agricultural digest poorly, the promotion of organized crime. A few have agreed to speak under cover of anonymity.

“It is a place of children here, there [in] (a full turn around their booth. The world is cave to support these guys, ” said an employee of the Expo.