DEFIANCE & DISSENT LONG OVERDUE

Yesterday's Woolwich Observer had as usual an excellent opinion ("His View") by Steve Kannon. The title was "Officials intent on removing privacy, civil rights, and we're not helping ourselves". The most frightening part for me was Steve's description of the Newfoundland man who wrote some angry tweets in response to a police shooting two years prior. Police quickly arrested him and had him committed to a psychiatric hospital. Ever think that our police have way too much power and not nearly enough accountability?

As bad as this example was what I saw on Channel 2 last evening was so much worse. A black man (George Toka) in Louisiana was arrested, convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole primarily for being black, 17 years old and best friends with the victim. The two white persons targeted for an armed robbery by the dead victim and another friend described the shooter who had accidentally shot his co-robber as being black, 5' 10" - 6' tall and around 170 pounds. After their written and signed description they were shown a head shot only of Mr. Toka whom they then "identified". George Toka was 5' 5'' tall and weighed 125 pounds. No matter, without any other evidence whatsoever he was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to life without parole. Recently he has been released from prison after serving thirty years for a crime he did not commit.

Sandy & Woolwich Council take note. This is precisely why citizens should never put up with your lying and making up the rules as they suit you. You won an election. As Donald Trump has shown, any asshole can win an election. In fact it's pretty well guaranteed that one asshole will win at each and every election.