Between the Margins - RHVP and Hate Crimes Follow Up Show

Today's show was a follow-up to the Rally for Peaceful Communities, held on October 7th, 2009, resulting from two highly publicized hate crimes in the City of London that occurred last September.

Highlights from the Rally included an address from Mayor Anne Marie Decicco-Best and from Deputy Chief of the London Police Department, Brad Duncan.

"And I don't want my London, or your London, to be a place where someone is walking down the street and needs to look over their shoulder. I don't want our London to be a place where people are afraid to be in their neighbourhood or in a place of business. The acts of violence that we've seen in particular over the last couple of weeks, but that I would say at any time, are reprehensible, they are appauling, and they are unacceptable," says Decicco-Best.

"And it's been our commitment and our mandate as a police service to work with our community and our council, but I think it's broader than that - to work with the community at large, in making sure that we understand we all have a role to play if we want London to be the best and safest city anywhere," she continued.

Deputy Police Chief Brad Duncan reiterated the mayor's sentiments.

"As the Mayor has indicated, the London Police service is committed to providing a safe, and secure community for all our citizens. A community that is supportive of everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, cultural background, or sexual orientation....streets where individuals and couples can walk freely - free from harassment and violence; free to work, live and play in our city. We will not tolerate violence in any form, perpetrated against those who have done nothing wrong, and targeted by those who prey on someone simply because of who they are."

"I commit to you, that anyone who becomes a victim of violence, will be treated with compassion and understanding. We will investigate and charge persons who engage in hate crimes, ensuring that our victims are protected and the offender is brought before the courts."

As per Duncan, the LPD investigates approximately 30 hate-motivated crimes a year in London - of those reported cases, over 30% involve a member of the LGBT community.

(Due to length, you can read the rest of the post HERE.)