Last night's show at Rehab with The Rebel Spell and Class Of 1984 was wonderful. Thanks go out to Heather and Cidra from Clove and Anchor Entertainment, the bands, and especially everyone who came out, and had the kindest words for us. Class Of 1984 went from being a band I thought were only okay, to being one of my favourite local bands. I will try to see them as often as I can. And The Rebel Spell can only be described as inspirational. I don't really listen to a ton of "melodic" punk/hardcore these days, but these guys compel me to listen to them. The catchy songs, the lyrics, the great personalities, they've got it all, the fuckers. Their lead singer, Todd, mentioned onstage how I have been an inspiration to him both musically and politically. Well, we've come full circle, and he's certainly that and more to me. It was a great night, we met a lot of people we hadn't talked to before, which made it totally worth it for me. Thanks again to Todd, Heather, and Cidra for putting us on the bill. See y'all on June 1st at Logan's, when we play with the Gnar Gnars, All Out Panic, and fucking Car 87! Oh yeah, and thanks to Brice for representing Car 87 at last night's show. It was great to see you. See you on the 1st.
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HALIFAX, N.S.—Amid the young and old grieving over the shattering loss of Rehtaeh Parsons, the dead teen’s youngest sister Teaghan was getting fidgety, as 3-year-olds do in church.
Remembering that Parsons’ grandfather, a former minister at the very Anglican church where the funeral for Rehtaeh was held Saturday, had a philosophy that “children should move freely,” cousin Angella Parsons got up and roamed about with the young child.
While more than 100 mourners recalled the life of 17-year-old Parsons, Angella and Teaghan came across a collection of cards and gifts that well-wishers had left for the family. Teaghan was drawn to a small stuffed dog, its pink collar embroidered with the name of her big sister.
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“The little one took this for comfort, so thank-you to whoever brought this little dog,” Angella said later.
Those who loved Parsons, who was taken off life-support last Sunday after hanging herself three days earlier, spoke of their despair, anger, indescribable grief. But others talked of the good, too, that has come in the days since her suicide, which followed months of depression over an alleged rape and subsequent social shunning.
Rev. John Morrell, in a eulogy that urged mourners to use this death to prevent others, acknowledged the positive accompanying the terrible loss.
“Social media contributed to Rehtaeh’s depression and death. Social media have shared her story around the world,” Morrell said. “Given the worldwide attention to the events leading up to this tragedy, it is appropriate to focus on what happens tomorrow, and the day after, and the weeks and years to come.”
After the funeral, at which Parsons’ aunt gave a eulogy and two friends shared memories, a glass-encased box containing Parsons’ ashes was loaded into a hearse as rain pelted down.
Watching in silence were Parson’s mother Leah and her younger sisters, Teaghan and Temyson, 9, both wearing pink outfits bought for the occasion. Parsons’ father, Glen Canning, sobbed and clutched his partner.
Mike Wells, Parsons’ boyfriend since last fall, arrived at the funeral with the family. In an interview Thursday with the Star the 20-year-old pipefitting student had said Parsons “was just way different than any other girl.”
“I still can’t believe it,” Wells said, as he quietly sobbed.
He was thankful that the tragedy has aroused widespread public outrage and calls for justice but felt “it shouldn’t have taken this.”
On Friday, police announced they were reopening their investigation into allegations that Parsons had been raped by a four boys at a house party in November, 2011.
The Parsons family says the teens took turns assaulting Rehtaeh and snapped a cellphone photo that was widely circulated among high school students in nearby Cole Harbour, where they live.
The humiliation and bullying that followed led to an 18-month battle with depression for Parsons. Her family says she turned to drugs and had suicidal thoughts.
RCMP and Halifax police investigated the family’s allegations but did not lay charges, saying there was not sufficient evidence to prosecute anyone. This prompted calls for justice from online “hacktivists.”
Several students at Cole Harbour District High School, which Parsons’ attended, told the Star that her alleged attackers — said to be in Grades 10 through 12 — still walk the halls freely.
Police now say all this may change with the reopening of the investigation: someone with credible new information has come forward. They stressed the information did not come from online sources.
Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter, who attended the funeral, called the family’s loss “unfathomable.” Afterwards he thanked those upset and angered by the tragedy for not taking action into their hands.
The Anonymous group of hacktivists has claimed it knows the names of the four alleged attackers but has not made them public out of respect for the family’s wish to avoid violence and further bullying.
Last week Dexter appointed a minister to oversee a review of the case. On Friday, his government launched an online and TV ad campaign to raise awareness about the resources available to those needing help.
Parsons’ death has also prompted other Nova Scotia high schoolers to take action. Shannon Barry, 16, a student at Dartmouth High, where it is suspected that students also saw the photo, is one of a group that started a campaign to promote positive use of social media and cellphones.
Their philosophy is that students literally have the power in their hands — via their cellphones — to positively or negatively affect another person’s life. Students are encouraged to sign pledges to use that power for good.
They will then tweet, text or post to Facebook their personal pledges en masse.
“It’s to encourage us not call a girl slut on Twitter, not retext a nasty picture,” she said.
Rev. Morrell called for efforts to battle sexual abuse and cyberbullying.
“How can our society create a safe haven for young girls? Why do young men feel that young girls are but objects for their sexual fantasies and pleasure? Why do teenagers avoid seeking help when they are depressed and suicidal? How can our schools deal with physical and now cyber bullying?” he asked.
PHOTOS: Halifax mourns bullied teen
