First Nations leader urges Canada to prosecute 'out of hand' hate speech

[Judi Lynn]

As indigenous peoples face vicious online attacks, including threats to their lives, Chief Bobby Cameron says those ‘spurring death online deserve to go to jail’

Ashifa Kassam in Toronto
@ashifa_k
Thursday 27 July 2017 06.00 EDT

Amid growing online attacks on Canada’s indigenous peoples – laced with vitriol, stereotypes and even death threats – a prominent First Nations leader is urging the government to crack down on hate speech.

“It’s getting out of hand,” said Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, which represents 74 First Nations in the province of Saskatchewan. “Our people deserve to feel accepted. They shouldn’t feel that their lives are in danger.”

During a meeting this week with Canada’s justice minister, Jody Wilson-Raybould, he pushed the government to consider strengthening the country’s hate speech laws. While prosecution of hate speech is not common in Canada, those found guilty face up to two years in prison.

“We’re calling for harsh and swift penalties, as well as prosecution,” he said. “These people, if they say, ‘So and so should die,’ or ‘I’m going to kill you,’ immediately they should be charged. Those that are spurring hatred and spurring death online deserve to go to jail.”

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/27/canada-first-nations-hate-speech-bobby-cameron