Sunday, October 05, 2008
Brake lines of Liberal supporters cut: This isn’t my Canada
Some of us take our politics more seriously than others but I think we all agree that, no matter what our political views may be, everyone who gets involved, whether its taking a lawn sign or volunteering on a campaign, is doing their own bit, in their own way, to make Canada a better place. I have friends of many different political persuasions, and I know they’d all be disturbed about incidents like this:
Toronto police patrolled a midtown area overnight, after vandals cut brake lines on at least 10 cars parked at homes with Liberal election signs on their lawns.
"We're investigating. Officers are paying special attention to the designated area and we take this very seriously," Staff-Sgt. Shawn Meloche, from 53 Division, said last night. "This is a danger to life as well as to property. Regardless of the motivation – and there appears to be a connection (to the signs) – this is a public safety issue."
Affected residents live in the riding of St. Paul's, in a swath of the city around Eglinton Ave. between Bathurst St. and Mount Pleasant Rd., and had Carolyn Bennett signs on their property. Although Meloche confirmed 10 cases of vandalism last night, Liberal riding headquarters said the number was going up, reporting 14 by 9 p.m. This isn’t just vandalism. In my view, its almost akin to attempted murder. It’s extremely dangerous. This kind of spineless and cowardly attack is unacceptable in Canada. And, sadly, it’s not an isolated incident. There were similar incidents against Liberal supporters last month in Guelph, during the aborted by-election campaign:
I hope the police investigate these cases vigorously and forcefully, and I hope the cowards behind these incidents are caught and exposed. And I hope to hell they’re not associated with any political party. I would hate to think that is what my Canada has come to.
Source
I knew about this from CBC radio but this is the only link I found.
Update:
A rash of dangerous vandalism has hit Lethbridge once again, after the brake lines of three more vehicles were cut in recent days.
The incidents are puzzling Lethbridge police [gee, that's a surprise], who are warning the public to be vigilant about examining their vehicles when they get in.
Eleven vehicles in two Lethbridge neighbourhoods have now had their brake lines cut, including eight cars targeted less than two weeks ago.
Police are searching for a culprit or culprits and don't know what is motivating the vandalism.
So far, no one whose vehicle has been vandalized has gotten into an accident, but police are still worried.
"Obviously there's serious potential here for property damage, injuries, even worse if someone were to get into a collision," Lethbridge police spokeswoman Kristen Harding said.
On Sunday and Monday, the brake lines of three cars were cut in one neighbourhood in the north of the city. Meanwhile, on Sept. 19 and 20, eight cars were targeted in a neighbourhood in the south of the city.
Police are urging the public to check their vehicle for leaking brake fluid before heading out on the road. Police also say that if a person starts his car and there is very little or no resistance when pressing the brake pedal, then he shouldn't drive away.
Eighty-five-year-old Anne Cameron, who lives in one of the targeted neighbourhoods, said she now checks her car for leaking fluids every time she heads out for a drive.
While Cameron said she's not been a victim of cut brake lines, she said the situation is worrying.
"I just think it's absolutely horrendous," she said. "I can't understand the mentality of anybody doing a thing like that."
Harding said most of the vehicles hit by vandals were parked behind residences, either in alleys or rear driveways.
Police are not aware of anything that links the victims, aside from the location of their vehicles.
Source
Nice, now the media isn't saying anything about the Liberal signs on the front lawns.
Brake lines of Liberal supporters cut: This isn’t my Canada
Some of us take our politics more seriously than others but I think we all agree that, no matter what our political views may be, everyone who gets involved, whether its taking a lawn sign or volunteering on a campaign, is doing their own bit, in their own way, to make Canada a better place. I have friends of many different political persuasions, and I know they’d all be disturbed about incidents like this:
Toronto police patrolled a midtown area overnight, after vandals cut brake lines on at least 10 cars parked at homes with Liberal election signs on their lawns.
"We're investigating. Officers are paying special attention to the designated area and we take this very seriously," Staff-Sgt. Shawn Meloche, from 53 Division, said last night. "This is a danger to life as well as to property. Regardless of the motivation – and there appears to be a connection (to the signs) – this is a public safety issue."
Affected residents live in the riding of St. Paul's, in a swath of the city around Eglinton Ave. between Bathurst St. and Mount Pleasant Rd., and had Carolyn Bennett signs on their property. Although Meloche confirmed 10 cases of vandalism last night, Liberal riding headquarters said the number was going up, reporting 14 by 9 p.m.
The escalation in Guelph is dramatic. Last night, over night, someone, or some group, went to all parts of the city vandalizing homes with Liberal party by-election signs out front. Houses were spray painted with slogans on the brickwork, garage, doors, and windows. But worse, much worse, is the fact that these cowards keyed the cars in the driveways with 'L' and cut the brake lines in the cars in the driveways. At least six cars are known to have had their brake lines cut. This is wreck less endangerment. Disabling the brakes on cars is a direct threat to life and limb and is way beyond the realm of acceptability.
This a very dangerous phenomenon. 14 brake lines cut in one night in Toronto. Six in one night in Guelph. This isn’t one or two crazies. It seems to be an organized campaign to threaten and intimidate Liberal supporters into silence. And that is something that should concern anyone that values free and open democratic debate.I hope the police investigate these cases vigorously and forcefully, and I hope the cowards behind these incidents are caught and exposed. And I hope to hell they’re not associated with any political party. I would hate to think that is what my Canada has come to.
Source
I knew about this from CBC radio but this is the only link I found.
Update:
A rash of dangerous vandalism has hit Lethbridge once again, after the brake lines of three more vehicles were cut in recent days.
The incidents are puzzling Lethbridge police [gee, that's a surprise], who are warning the public to be vigilant about examining their vehicles when they get in.
Eleven vehicles in two Lethbridge neighbourhoods have now had their brake lines cut, including eight cars targeted less than two weeks ago.
Police are searching for a culprit or culprits and don't know what is motivating the vandalism.
So far, no one whose vehicle has been vandalized has gotten into an accident, but police are still worried.
"Obviously there's serious potential here for property damage, injuries, even worse if someone were to get into a collision," Lethbridge police spokeswoman Kristen Harding said.
On Sunday and Monday, the brake lines of three cars were cut in one neighbourhood in the north of the city. Meanwhile, on Sept. 19 and 20, eight cars were targeted in a neighbourhood in the south of the city.
Police are urging the public to check their vehicle for leaking brake fluid before heading out on the road. Police also say that if a person starts his car and there is very little or no resistance when pressing the brake pedal, then he shouldn't drive away.
Eighty-five-year-old Anne Cameron, who lives in one of the targeted neighbourhoods, said she now checks her car for leaking fluids every time she heads out for a drive.
While Cameron said she's not been a victim of cut brake lines, she said the situation is worrying.
"I just think it's absolutely horrendous," she said. "I can't understand the mentality of anybody doing a thing like that."
Harding said most of the vehicles hit by vandals were parked behind residences, either in alleys or rear driveways.
Police are not aware of anything that links the victims, aside from the location of their vehicles.
Source
Nice, now the media isn't saying anything about the Liberal signs on the front lawns.
