Hundreds Gather for Second Annual SlutWalk

     The SlutWalk protest rallies began when Constable Michael Sanguinetti, a Toronto police officer, spoke on crime prevention at York University and suggested that in order for women to remain safe they should "avoid dressing like sluts." The first walk took place in Toronto on April 3, 2011, only three months after Const. Sanguinetti inadvertently supported rape-culture through victim blaming and the misrepresentation of assault on women. Over 3,000 people gathered at Queen's Park to listen to various speeches before marching on the Toronto Police Headquarters. While most women dressed in everyday wear (to symbolize ordinary women, sexually assaulted in ordinary life) some came dressed provokingly, representing sluts.

Parents and Principal Plead for Help in Locating Missing Toronto Student

Michelle Yu, right, is shown with friend Pelin Tan. Yu has been missing since Tuesday prompting her family and school principal to issue an appeal for help in finding the Grade 12 student. (Toronto Star/Supplied Photo)

     Michelle Yu, an 18-year-old Toronto student who excelled at sports and academics, has been missing since Tuesday afternoon; not answering her phone or responding to messages sent to her through her Blackberry. The teen is reported to always have her phone on her and carries a charger with her so that she is always in touch with her family and friends. Yu is a popular student and an active member of her community, she was supposed to meet a fellow Girl Guide at York Mills station for a shopping trip to buy food for children but she never showed up.

Killer of Community Activist Gets Life Sentence

     This is a quick follow-up to a story I talked about back in February regarding Kenneth Mark, a soft-spoken man who was executed after speaking out against gun violence in his Toronto neighbourhood. For the full details of that story click here.

    Today it was announced that Lamar Skeete, the man found guilty of first-degree murder, has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years. The story was broadcast on News Talk 1010 and carried in full here. I hope that Mark's family can rest a little easier knowing that justice was done and Mark's heroics had a positive impact on the community.

Media does Disservice in Ignoring Trial in Shooting of Heroic Kenneth Mark

The scene where Kenneth Mark was murdered on Dec. 29, 2009

     
     Kenneth Mark died a hero. The soft-spoken man stood 6-foot-four-inches tall, weighed about 300 pounds, and died when Lamar Skeete, seeking retaliation, came up behind him, put a gun to the back of his head and pulled the trigger, ending Mark’s life.