Dear Premier Dalton,
Hello; I am a BC resident (but University of Toronto graduate) but am writing to you to express my deep concern over the racist treatment of a Keswick Korean student by the justice and education systems in your province. The student is the subject of a Globe and Mail article which can be found here.
Essentially, this student was bullied by a racist, and then attacked violently. With a single counter-punch with his left hand, this student defeated his attacker, breaking the attacker’s nose. Police have charged the Korean student with assault causing bodily harm, and the student has been threatened with expulsion from school. The Korean student has a 90% average in his courses.
Mr. Premier, this is a travesty of justice at several levels. How on earth can a person who defends himself be the subject of an arrest warrant for assault? How was the Korean student to respond—let himself get beaten up? I note that he did not repeatedly strike his attacker—he struck just once. He exercised caution by using his non-dominant left hand. How can this basic form of self defense be considered assault?
Second, what kind of an education system suspends an otherwise model student for an entire month, and threatens such a student with expulsion?
Mr. Premier, I am writing to ask that you order your Attorney-General to drop these ridiculous charges against this Korean student, and to ask that you initiate a performance and ethical review of the York School District administrators and local Crown and police officials who have essentially harassed this victimized student and his parents.
There is no place in my Canada for institutionalized racism and callousness, and I hope that the Province of Ontario will act speedily in the best interests of the victim, justice, and education.
Thank you for your consideration of these requests.
Sincerely yours,
Nathan Bauman, B.A., M.A.
