ARTWORK BY CONVICTED COP-KILLER MAY BE HATE
CRIME
Queen’s Park –
The display in a Kingston coffee shop of artwork
depicting Ontario police officers as members
of the Ku Klux Klan should be investigated under
Section 319 (Hate Crime Legislation) of the
Criminal Code, Leeds-Grenville MPP Bob Runciman
recommended in a statement presented in the
Ontario Legislature today.
Runciman, a former Solicitor General, said
he is incensed that cartoons he believes incite
hatred against police officers are on public
display in Kingston. Incredibly, the artist
is a convict serving a life sentence for the
cold-blooded murder of an Ottawa police officer,
David Upton.
Two samples of the artwork appeared in an article
published by the National Post today. They portray
police officers as racists wearing Ku Klux Klan
hoods.
“I believe these cartoons constitute
hate propaganda,” said Runciman. “They
are every offensive to all police officers and
I would expect very hurtful to the family of
Officer Upton who was gunned down by the artist,
Peter Collins.”
“I encourage Kingston Police to investigate,
guided by the Hate Crime legislation,”
he said. He also suggests the people of Kingston
can show their support for police by boycotting
the commercial enterprise that promotes and
displays this material.
Media Contact:
Bob Runciman
