Hate crimes continued
This was unfortunately buried in the Toronto Star the next day, on Saturday.
I really hope this gets resolved quickly. These types of incidents leave a poisonous aftertaste and it is important that in a country as diverse and multicultural as ours, the authorities treat cases like this with the utmost urgency, to show everyone that this type of intimidation will never be tolerated in this country. And that includes changing the definition of a hate crime to not require someone to advocate genocide or disseminate hate propaganda before charges can be laid, as is the case now.
http://www.thestar.com/article/261867
Georgina vandalism probed as hate crime
September 29, 2007
Tamara Cherry
Staff Reporter
York Region police are investigating a rash of hate crimes near the south shores of Lake Simcoe.Nine vehicles parked on Annshiela Dr. in the Town of Georgina were spray painted with swastikas, anti-Semitic and homophobic slurs between 9 p.m. Tuesday and 4 a.m. Wednesday, police say.
Doors and windows of several homes were also spray-painted and one vehicle had its windows and lights smashed. In two of the incidents, property was stolen.
Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact police at 1-866-876-5423 ext. 7341 or ext. 7189 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 or www.1800222tips.com.
Why are these hate crimes not being taken more seriously?
I’m going to reserve judgement for the time being because, as they say, there is an ongoing investigation, but from what I have read so far, this is definitely something that needs more attention than its been getting so far.
http://www.thestar.com/article/261436
Hate-crime probe begins
York Region force to investigate whether attacks on fishermen were racially motivated
September 28, 2007
Paola Loriggio
Staff Reporter
York Region police have launched hate-crime investigations into four incidents of “nippertipping,” acts of violence or mischief targeting mostly Asian-Canadians.
The decision marks an about-face for the force, which previously denied the assaults were racially motivated.
“We are actively investigating the incident,” said Staff Sgt. Ricky Veerappan, of the department’s diversity and cultural resources bureau, referring to a Sept. 16 incident that left Toronto resident Shayne Berwick, 23, in a coma.
Berwick had been fishing with a group of friends that included Asian-Canadians.
Three other cases, dating back to the spring, are now also under investigation as hate crimes, Veerappan said. All took place in the Lake Simcoe area.
“As we obtain information, if it seems racially motivated, the appropriate charges will be laid,” Veerappan said.
Two men have been charged with assault in relation to two of the incidents.
The investigation was announced at a news conference organized by community groups pushing for government and police action against the “nippertipping” trend described in the Star this week.
Some residents of the nearby town of Sutton say the practice began decades ago.
“Nippertipping,” a term coined from a derogatory word for the Japanese and the rural prank known as cow tipping, consists of sneaking up behind fishermen and shoving them in the lake.
“We look at news reports and say, `What? Today?’ This is Toronto,” said Susan Eng, of The Reference Group, a community group focused on equal access to the political process.
Zanana Akande, former president of the Urban Alliance on Race Relations, said the incidents affect all communities.
“`Nipper’ is not far from `nigger,’” Akande said.
Barbara Hall, chief commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, pledged to support the investigation.
“To have a group experience this kind of racism and hate is shocking and needs action,” Hall said.
Police and community members say many similar incidents go unreported.
When radio show host Simon Li brought up “nippertipping” on Tuesday’s edition of Power Politics, his nightly Chinese-language call-in show, he was shocked by the response. More than 10 people shared stories of harassment and assault, Li said.
One caller, a Chinese-Canadian man, said he was recently held at gunpoint while fishing in the Lake Simcoe area.
Part of the problem is the Criminal Code’s narrow definition of a hate crime, said Karen Mock, who chaired the hate crimes community working group, a government advisory team.
By law, hate-crime charges can only be laid when someone advocates genocide or disseminates hate propaganda, she said.
In a report published last December, the group urged the federal government to recognize “hate incidents,” non-criminal offences motivated by bias or bigotry, such as harassment.
“These hate incidents should also be investigated,” Mock said.
