December 6.

On December 14 1989 Marc Lepine walked into Montreals L'Ecole Polytechnique and opened fire on a class of women engineering students. Before doing so he separated the men from the women and declared 'I Hate Feminists', he let the men go, and then shot and killed 14 women before turning the gun on himself. 13 students were killed and one school employee. This became a galvanizing moment in which mourning turned to outrage about all violence against women. I wanted to write about this today not only in tribute to these 14 women but also because our own city has recently released a dangerous sex offender, Richard Hector Major proves to be a significant risk to all children and adult and elderly women. He has been quoted saying that 'he will do anything to get back into prison'. So my question then to the people that make these extremely bad decisions is: do we have to wait until Majors fantasy about killing a woman is fulfilled? Before the 'ones above' take these predators seriously? In my opinion this shows a complete lack of respect for the safety and well being of women and children in the city of Vancouver. The majority of people making these decisions are adult men and they have absolutely no idea what its like to not feel safe walking home at night, no idea what its like to be constantly checking behind you, making sure you look in your backseat before you get into your car, don't wear too short of a skirt or too tight of a top, wear gender neutral clothing when you go out at night, carry pepper spray, take a self defense class, walk with your keys balled up in your fist, they don't have to do any of that... And yet they are the ones that make these ludicrous decisions. it is not enough to put Richard Hector Major's picture on the front page of the paper and say that we have been warned. he kidnapped and raped a pregnant woman. letting him out of prison is disrespectful and it revolts me. i guess i just think its sad that today the anniversary of the Montreal Massacre i dont think that we can truly say that we have come that far.


R.I.P