Layton vows to take on big business to protect consumers

The Canadian Press

THUNDER BAY, Ont.— A gay man beaten with a brick in Thunder Bay, Ont., was not the victim of a hate crime and is now one of five people facing charges in a sequence of altercations that included the attack, police said Friday.

John (Jake) Raynard, 30, landed at the centre of a community debate over hate crimes and violence after he was beaten in the face with a brick in an attack that friends said included slurs against his sexual orientation.

The attack shocked the community and led to an outpouring of support for Raynard, including a massive rally last month and a Facebook group with more than 8,500 members.

On Friday, police charged Raynard with assault and assault with a weapon. He will appear in court Dec. 2.

Charges have also been laid against two 16-year-olds, while warrants have been issued for the arrest of a 16-year-old and an 18-year-old.

A total of four people were sent to hospital following violent incidents police said appear to have stemmed from a confrontation in front of a bar in the early hours of Sept. 5.

Raynard's friend Juan Anderson said Friday the classification of the attack as a hate crime was less important than the debate it has generated over the issue.

"The whole goal was to raise the issue about whether this was a hate crime or not," said Anderson.

"This has spurred a very healthy debate about the level of violence in the community and that's ongoing.

The White paper government that our Jack Layton sits in, is asking to much from Native people who committed provincial offence by signing away everything under the sun in the treaty making process for them to become CITIZENS of the White paper government of Canada. University education, Christian values, are some requirements. How in GOD's loving creation is a Native going to acquire University education, first going through the elementary, high school to get there. Do you know how are it is to try and write a theses? especially when MAGGOTS are crawling around everywhere, next to impossible, opinion; I think my pen-pal is a MAGGOT, what do you think?
In the USA. The requirement for CITIZENSHIP is grade 8 maximum. University education is next to impossible for our Native brothers and sisters in Canada, without grade 8, a person in the USA can be placed in jail. Mmmmmmmmm! the breeze is so warm and friendly up here in the fifth floor, ocean waves splashing on the beach and crying babies back home.