Nova Scotia man hung a noose from cross and set it aflame on interracial couple’s lawn
Justin Chad Rehberg, 20, has been found guilty of inciting hatred for burning a cross on the lawn of an interracial couple in Poplar Grove, N.S., the first time cross-burning has been recognized as a hate crime in Canada. Rehberg had already pleaded guilty to a criminal harassment charge, and admitted to building the cross and setting it on fire, but his lawyer argued that there was no proof Rehberg incited others to action. In fact, he said, Rehberg caused the community to rally around the couple, who had also had their car burned in an earlier incident, and whose three children were home when the cross was set on fire and someone yelled “die n—-r die.” Rehberg’s brother Nathan was also charged with criminal harassment, public incitement of hatred, mischief and uttering threats in connection to the incident.