If the people who hide behind the Internet could get any more cruel, they have proved themselves well.
Death has taken its toll on the Parsons’ family after their daughter, Rehtaeh, hung herself on April 4, 2013, in her Dartmouth, Nova Scotia home, in the wake of severe cyberbullying.
Rehtaeh Parsons was seventeen years old when she taken off life support on April 7, 2013.
Her case centers on her alleged gang rape when she was fifteen year old by four boys from her school. The alleged attack took place at a friend’s house during a party where all involved were drinking vodka.
Rehtaeh Parsons had stated that she had no memory of what happened that night after blacking out, other than remembering that she threw up.
But what happened was evidenced in photo footage that shows what her family alleges was a gang rape. The photo was spread through her school and community in the next three days.
The alleged gang rape and subsequent re-traumatization through the access the community had to the photo caused Rehtaeh such despair that she killed herself in April 2013 at seventeen.
While the RCMP has not laid charges against the boys for the alleged gang rape, on August 8, 2013, two eighteen year olds were arrested on child pornography charges for their alleged involvement in making and distributing images of Rehtaeh Parsons’ rape.
These two men are due in youth court in Halifax on August 15, 2013. Their identities are shielded from the public because they were minors at the time they committed the alleged offences.
In response to the cyberbullying of Parsons, Nova Scotia Justice Minister, Ross Landry, introduced the Cyber-Safety Act that would empower victims of online bullying to confront their attackers in the courts.
Now Rehtaeh Parsons’ father, Glen Canning, has come forward surrounding his daughter’s case to claim that he has received an online death threat.
Police are said to be investigating the threats, posted two weeks ago on his Youtube channel.
According to Glen Canning, the message was as follows: “‘I know where you live, I know your face, I know your car, I know your house, I know where you work. And you better shut up, bud, or you’re going to be joining your daughter.’”
Support rabble today!
We’re so glad you stopped by! Thanks for consuming rabble content this year.
rabble.ca is 100% reader and donor funded, so as an avid reader of our content, we hope you will consider gifting rabble with a donation during our summer fundraiser today.
Whether it be a one-time donation or a small monthly contribution, your support is critical to keep rabble writers producing the work you’ve come to rely on as a part of a healthy media diet.
Whether it be a one-time donation or a small monthly contribution, your support is critical to keep rabble writers producing the work you’ve come to rely on as a part of a healthy media diet.
Become a rabble rouser — donate to rabble.ca today.
Nick Seebruch, editor
