By Katie Gauthier
Ottawa’s literary community is rallying to show its support for the 16-year-old Cornwall-area teenager charged with uttering death threats and jailed for writing a fictional story about bombing his school.
The Ottawa International Writers Festival is organizing a public meeting and fund-raiser for Jan. 28 at the National Arts Centre. Called Ottawa Artists for Freedom of Speech, it will include readings and panel discussions by local writers.
Sean Wilson, artistic director of the Writers Festival,Sean Wilson, artistic director of the Writers Festival says the event is still being planned but anyone concerned with the freedom of speech should attend.
The Writers Festival, which brings about 60 writers from around the world together, usually occurs in September.
“Something had to be done right away to show this young man that he is not alone. This is an attack on our freedom of speech and we have to take a stand,” says Wilson, explaining why the festival is holding an early event.
Wilson says it is “mind-blowing” that a young teenager has spent more than a month in jail, including his birthday and the Christmas holidays, after writing a fictional short story for a drama class.
Wilson says funds raised at the event will go towards a program allowing artists to visit schools and hold workshops on creativity and freedom of expression.
The funds will also help to enrol the jailed teenager in a creative writing program.
“We need to let kids vent their frustration in creative ways,” says Wilson. “How can writing a short story be considered a crime in this country?”
Centretown poet Michael Dennis says it must be determined whether the youth was writing an assignment or writing a detailed plan of revenge.
“If he was writing an assignment, as all evidence seems to indicate, then it is a complete non-issue,” says Dennis.
“It is an absolute violation of every sort of freedom.”
Dennis plans to participate in the Ottawa Artists for Freedom of Speech public meeting.
“We have to prevent these sorts of situations from going forward,” he says. “It’s censorship at the most intrusive and absurd level and has to be combated at every turn.”
Similarly, Centretown writer David Beckett, says he is troubled by the teenager’s case.
“I have been closely following this story,” says Beckett. He will not be participating in the Writers Festival’s event later this month.
Beckett says he recalls his frustration in high school after he was told that his written story was “too obscene.”
“My story was posted on the big bulletin board outside the cafeteria,” he says. “It was immediately covered up and I was not given a chance to explain it.”
Beckett says writing is an excellent way of dealing with frustration and anger.
He says “putting feelings on paper” should be encouraged.
However, Beckett says the teen’s story should not have been read out loud in class.
“The boy was foolish to bring such a story to class,” he says. “A suspension would seem appropriate.”
Still, Beckett says the Writers Festival is correct in voicing its concern with the limitation of the freedom of expression surrounding this teenager’s case.
“If one person is silenced, others will definitely also be silenced,” he says. “Censorship is a slippery slope.”