TORONTO – Opinion – I walked straight up to Rob Ford today in front of several media members and asked: “Mr. Ford: Can you explain to me why an Aboriginal person was arrested for bearing a flag at the Remembrance day ceremony while you, Sir, were not after admitting to possession of an illegal substance?”.
I did not wait around for his answer.
Did they expect anything less when they were requesting the removal of a flag?
Is it disruptive to carry a flag?
Give me a break this is disgusting. Can you imagine for a moment the Canadian flag being on the ground — and being put there by a police officer on this day of all days?
All the while our Mayor admitted to a criminal act.
[sws_pullquote_right] The police choosing to arrest an individual at that same ceremony which the police claim he ‘disrupted’ via waving of an Indigenous flag standing by while Rob Ford has not been charged for the act which he admitted: I just find what happened that day terribly disturbing. [/sws_pullquote_right] This was likely the most embarrassing and disturbing moment I have seen on a day such as this: Constable Wendy Drumming the only one causing a disruption was your fellow officers and I hope the community files a formal complaint in relation to this arrest against the officers involved.
The day prior he admitted to using crack cocaine and it was his first public appearance after that admission: an admission of an illegal act.
The police choosing to arrest an individual at that same ceremony which the police claim he ‘disrupted’ via waving of an Indigenous flag standing by while Rob Ford has not been charged for the act which he admitted: I just find what happened that day terribly disturbing.
This individual was disrespected as he was while Rob Ford, their boss, — watched the Iroquois flag placed on the ground on Remembrance Day and stood free: I view this as an affront to every person who is represented by that flag who is a veteran.
I am an adopted person.
The irony is I find it an insult not only to my Birth Grandfather who was Maliseet and a veteran, his wife who he met in the war and served in the British Forces, but also to my Mother’s Grandfather a non- Indigenous Canadian who also served from Canada.
Who is this man to walk free, to witness the arrest of a person bearing a flag, one of many that make up the fabric of this Country, and to follow this up by selling bobble heads of himself?
I support treatment of people with addictions. I have compassion for them.
Regardless someone of that position, ruling over the police, should absolutely be removed from office in light of his admissions for the purpose of the respect of the Institution, and in particular due to his role over riding the Toronto Police :Kathleen Wynne needs to act
Kristien Michael
Toronto
