In no way do I endorse vandalism in any form. I support the right of any individual to protect their property from such irresponsible behavior. Like many, I am disappointed that Carrie Boles directed her energies to turning election campaign signs into garbage before their time.
I support Ryan Leef’s efforts to catch the culprit, at least out of respect to all those individuals and companies who have so generously made the purchase of his signage possible. My support for Mr. Leef’s actions end there. What happened next horrifies me in many ways.
By their own account, our MP and his accomplice used overpowering force to bring a single woman to her knees. Why are more men not outraged by this? At least it ends there with handcuffs and a call to the real law enforcement.
Perhaps they felt, as many perpetrators of violence against women do, that Ms. Boles deserved it. Perhaps she was asking for it. Maybe it was the way she looked at them, or the clothes she was wearing. Men use these excuses all the time for abusing women and children.
I believe that Mr. Leef’s actions were premeditated, having sized up his prey before he struck, and having known she was a slightly built woman. He didn’t approach her to talk through the situation as any decent man would have. If the vandal had been of a more substantial stature, or more numerous, I’m sure he would not have felt so brave.
Instead of catching a vandal, Mr. Leef and his accomplice have perpetrated yet another act of male violence against a woman. I am glad that Ms. Boles’s knees did not come in contact with, say, sharp rocks when she was overpowered, as that could cause lifelong injury.
This is an assault on the integrity of Leef’s office. It is yet another assault on the integrity of men. Worse, it perpetuates the message that violence against women is OK, that there are no consequences for the perpetrators.
This is nothing but an act of cowardice that has no justification whatsoever. Mr. Leef has entirely dishonored himself and his office, and helped undermine the efforts of those who work to bring an end to male acts of violence against women and children. Shame on you.
Garret Gillespie
Whitehorse