WINNIPEG — Donovan MacKenzie Ballingall, 23, of Winnipeg was arrested on April 29 and charged with four counts of willful promotion of hatred after an RCMP investigation into hate-filled social media posts targeting Jewish, Muslim, non-Caucasian, and 2SLGBTQ+ communities.
The charges were announced on May 21 by the RCMP’s Northwest Region Federal Policing National Security unit. Ballingall is currently in the Winnipeg Remand Centre pending further court proceedings.
Police found Ballingall to be the individual behind multiple online profiles posting hate rhetoric primarily on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He was linked to several accounts sharing content that incited hatred against visible minorities and marginalized groups.
The RCMP said their federal policing national security teams focus on crimes that pose a threat to national security, including violent extremism and hate crimes.
Local Jewish leadership and community organizations are welcoming the charges as a step in the right direction to combat hate and protect vulnerable populations.
Gustavo Zentner, Vice-President for Manitoba and Saskatchewan at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), praised the RCMP for their “serious and swift” handling of the case. “Hate has no borders,” Zentner said. He added that CIJA and the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg will continue to work with law enforcement to address community concerns.
Jeff Lieberman, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, said, “This is the first time such charges have been laid in Manitoba, and it comes at a time of a wave of hate incidents over the past 18 months.” He commended the RCMP for their “swift and serious” response and said we need to remain vigilant and take legal action against hate crimes.
Ballingall is the latest in a series of hate-related prosecutions in Manitoba, including Nevin Thunder Young, who was charged with terrorist related offences and antisemitic graffiti vandalism.
In related news, the Manitoba government announced a $95,000 investment, with federal funding, to provide hate crimes training for Crown attorneys. The training, in partnership with CIJA and the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, will help prosecutors to better pursue hate crime cases and support victims. Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said, “Hate crimes are complex, and the impact on victims and communities is devastating. This training will help prosecutors serve the public interest by holding offenders accountable for the harm they cause.”
The Winnipeg Police Service reported hate-motivated crimes hit a 5-year high in 2023 with 46 incidents.
This article is based on verified information from the RCMP, CIJA, Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, CBC News, Winnipeg Free Press, and other official sources as of May 23, 2025.