Columnist Enlists Anonymous to Take Down Rapists

A Canadian political heavyweight has called upon Anonymous to “name and shame” four teenagers accused of raping a girl who committed suicide last week.

17-year-old Rehtaeh Parsons of Halifax, Nova Scotia, committed suicide last week, 18 months after she was allegedly gang-raped by four boys and then subjected to a vicious bullying campaign spurred by a photo of the attack that was spread around her school by one of her attackers. “This day changed the lives of our family forever,” her mother wrote in a tribute message on Facebook. “Rehtaeh was suddenly shunned by almost everyone she knew, the harassment was so bad she had to move out of her own community to try to start anew in Halifax.”

The RCMP investigated the attack but the boys involved were never charged, and while Nova Scotia Justice Minister Ross Landry requested a review of the case after the story made national headlines, it seems unlikely that the situation will change. That’s led to a growing call for the involvement of online activist group Anonymous, including from high-profile Canadian political strategist, commentator, author and Liberal party heavyweight Warren Kinsella, who wrote an open letter calling on the group to “find out who the little bastards are.”

In fact, Kinsella seems quite happy to take Anonymous off the leash altogether. “The RCMP, who allegedly investigated, are led in Nova Scotia by Alphonse MacNeil. He calls himself a ‘consensus builder. and has two daughters. I’m sure you could find his email address if you needed to,” Kinsella wrote. “The Nova Scotia government, which agreed with – and energetically defended – the RCMP’s decision to do nothing about the rape or the child pornography, is led by NDP leader Darrell Dexter. Interestingly, he represents Cole Harbour in the provincial legislature. His email isn’t readily available, either, but I know you’ll find that, too.”

“The names of the little bastards who did this, and who are still alive and walk free in Cole Harbour, are unknown to most of us. But, as in the Steubenville, Ohio case, I am certain anyone who is sufficiently motivated can find out who the little bastards are, and name and shame them,” he continued. “I’m unclear how to appeal to you, Anonymous. But if there was ever a case that cried out for your attention – and if there were ever men like MacNeil, Dexter and Landry who deserved to be fired, or worse, for their pathetic responses – I don’t know what it is. What happened to Rehtaeh and her family is so horrible, so evil, I am ashamed that it happened in my country.”

Kinsella’s involvement is noteworthy because he’s not just some guy on the internet: He was a high-ranked adviser on the successful reelection campaign of Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and until 2010 headed the “war room” of the federal Liberal party. His influence is such that he is known in some political circles as the “Prince of Darkness.”

Anonymous, of course, is well known for its ability to dig up dirt and stir up trouble, and is being sought as an executor of justice in this case in large part because of its involvement in a similar case in Steubenville, Ohio, in which the rape of 16-year-old girl by members of the local high school football team in 2012 went largely ignored until evidence, including police documents and a video made on the night of the attack, was leaked onto the internet.

Twitter users are spreading the call to Anonymous with the hashtag #OpJustice4Rehtaeh, and despite warnings from the Nova Scotia RCMP, the group has responded with a statement saying it has already identified two of the four accused rapists and will soon have the other two as well, and that it will release their names to the public unless authorities take “immediate legal action.”

“We do not approve of vigilante justice as the media claims. That would mean we approve of violent actions against these rapists at the hands of an unruly mob. What we want is justice. And that’s your job. So do it,” the statement says. “The names of the rapists will be kept until it is apparent you have no intention of providing justice to Retaeh’s family. Please be aware that there are other groups of Anons also attempting to uncover this information and they may not to wish to wait at all. Better act fast.”

“Be aware that we will be organizing large demonstrations outside of [RCMP] headquarters,” it concludes. “The rapists will be held accountable for their actions. You will be held accountable for your failure to act.”

A Change.org petition calling for an independent inquiry into the investigation has so far attracted roughly 14,000 signatures.

Source: Huffington Post