To the editor,
Even if you are an indigenous person, it does not entitle you to breach the constitution and the laws of the land.
There are no free passes from abiding by the law for ethnic, religious, or any other special interest group. Equal treatment under the law is exactly that and must be paramount in a truly democratic society.
Too many protesters clearly believe their rights supersede other citizens’ rights. Protesters’ freedom of speech ends at the point they prevent the free speech of others. Their freedom of association ends at the point they prevent the freedom of association of others.
Their blockade of roads, bridges, and buildings (even the B.C. Legislature) is a legal and constitutional violation of the rights of untold citizens. Such breach of our constitutional and legal rights must end by the people demanding respect while showing disrespect for other citizens, elected officials, and even the law courts.
The police, the attorney generals, and the courts are obligated to protect all citizens’ rights and freedoms and not condone, ignore, or fail to prevent breaches thereof.
If your protestations detrimentally impinge the rights of fellow citizens you are breaking the law and should stop immediately.
Any authority failing to protect all of our constitutional and legal rights should resign immediately – true democracy demands it.
Gary Korpan, Nanaimo
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The views and opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the writer and do not reflect the views of Black Press or the Nanaimo News Bulletin. If you have a different view, we encourage you to write to us or contribute to the discussion below.