Ghomeshi trial a sham that should be stopped
Thanks for your excellent story on the Jian Ghomeshi trial by Jane Doe (NOW, February 4-10).
I’m a lawyer. It seems everyone at the trial is doing their job except the Crown and the non-standing complainants’ lawyers.
The failure to do witness preparation, including disclosure, witness analysis and courtroom conduct, is outright negligence and a breach of professional conduct. Given the imbalance of resources between the Crown and the fancy defence team, such legal footwork is essential.
The Crown cannot abandon a key witness to the dogs. Wrong Crown lawyer selected? Would a woman Crown have seen it all more clearly and responded less cynically and more competently? I urge all progressive forces to unite to call for a halt to this sham proceeding and to the subsequent trial, pending proper preparation of all Crown witnesses.
It is the mission of the justice system to provide a full and reasoned airing of the facts as a basis for a just disposition of the matter. It has failed so far in this trial.
Anita Lerek, Toronto
Exhibit A: why women don’t report sex crime
People ask why women don’t report sexual assaults. The answer becomes obvious to anyone following the so-called Ghomeshi trial – a trial not about the alleged sexual violence that multiple women have reported. As usual, it’s the women’s behaviours that are on trial, in a carefully crafted dramatic courtroom narrative to purposefully dismiss them as fools and liars.
The legal system is screwy for women who report sexual assault. It is not set up to hear about sexual violence on behalf of the female victims/witnesses but to look up their skirts, down their trousers, comb their Facebook and snigger at their behaviours after a bad situation. For a mere $200,000 in legal fees (guessing), Ghomeshi gets a front-row seat to the take-them-down theatrics, confident he’ll walk.
Janis Cole, Toronto
Cops clarify role in harm reduction plan
Re Cops In Harm Reduction’s Way, by Kelly Rose Pflug-Back (NOW February 4-10). Police are not riding in The Works’ mobile outreach vans and are not present during the process of rapid HIV/AIDS testing.
This initiative was created by officers in 13 Division, not the Toronto Police Services Board. The shelter at Oakwood and Vaughan was not a factor in the development or implementation of this initiative.
Officers do not gather intelligence or information for any purpose other than to facilitate the referral of the individual for appropriate care.
Anyone wishing to contact the members of the project team is encouraged to do so via streetreferral@torontopolice.on.ca or 416-808-0081.
Superintendent Scott Baptist, Toronto Police Service
Bathhouse raids remembered
It was good to see James Dubro’s article in NOW recognizing the 35th anniversary of the bathhouse raids (NOW, February 4-10). There were, however, a number of things that were inadvertently conflated that should be clarified.
Those arrested were charged with being “found in” or “keepers of a common bawdy house.” There were many phone calls the night of the raids, but the plan to hold a demonstration at Yonge and Wellesley was decided at a quickly organized activist meeting held in the offices of the Body Politic the next morning, February 6.
It was at a subsequent demonstration several months later, on June 20, that a police attack led to the injuries of Ken Popert, Tim McCaskell and other demonstrators.
Lemona Johnson, the widow of Albert Johnson (shot and killed by police in his home in 1979), did not speak at the February 6 rally but at a second rally two weeks later.
The Right to Privacy Committee was formed in 1979 after an earlier police raid on the Barracks bathhouse resulted in bawdy house charges.
Dennis Findlay, Gerald Hannon, Ed Jackson, Gary Kinsman, Tim McCaskell, Toronto
Letter writer devalues black culture
To suggest, as letter writer Mitchell Chaitov does, that calling attention to systemic racism in our cultural industries is “complaining” (NOW, February 4-10) is a product of entitled, blind privilege.
To claim that “talent is colour-blind” is not only naive but also erases entire communities that created and influenced our musical environment.
The music industry is a system that makes strategic decisions based in economics and perceived value, and these decisions affect investment of resources like time, money, staff, networks, press, etc.
A deck of cards has a defined system: there are 52 cards, four kings, four queens, etc.
And cards are ranked – some have more power it’s not simply how the cards fall that determines the outcome of the game.
Ian Kamau, Toronto
All that Jazz Cartier
I am not a big hip-hop fan, but I couldn’t help but notice the differences between Jazz Cartier (NOW, February 4-10), who was featured on your cover, and Jalal Mansur Nuriddin, in a much smaller article.
Toronto’s Prince of Hip-Hop says that in his “non-egotistical” assessment “no other rapper is on the same level.” I can wait to hear his Talk Of The Town featuring insightful lyrics like “I’m the prince of the city / I’m the talk of the town / No-one is fucking with me / Cuz I ain’t fuckin around.” He comes across as having nothing to say of any substance apart from “Look at me.”
Nuriddin, on the other hand, is intelligent, creative, smart and socially conscious. Luckily, Cartier is a young guy and has time to avoid becoming one of the “candy rappers” Nuriddin mentions.
Robert Graham, Toronto
Boss mind-blowing
Wonderful review by Carla Gillis of Bruce Springsteen’s concert (NOW, February 3). Well done. You really captured the essence and spirit of the event, of his special bond with his fans. But “fans” doesn’t quite cover it, though, does it? It’s something deeper, more visceral and complete than that. There’s an abiding respect and genuine affection that goes both ways. Thanks for that.
Don Griffiths, Toronto
Food stereotypes – it’s all Greek to me
What’s the difference between the “ethereal burgers” at the “decidedly Irish” Allen’s and the “gloriously greasy gyros” at Alexandros (NOW, February 4-10)? Size, taste, calories or stereotype?
Tony Vlassopoulos, Toronto
