Where's the outrage?

Chantel Dunn was an upstanding girl -- she wasn't involved in any trouble and she didn't keep poor company. She had just received a promotion at work and, according to the Toronto Star, Chantel dreamed of attending law school.

She had dreams.

Unfortunately, she won't be able to achieve them because earlier this week, the 19-year-old was shot to death after a basketball game in the north end of Toronto.

My question is: where are all those loud talking politicians who had gun violence as part of the election campaigns? They were up in arms about how violent thugs were toting illegal guns and killing innocents in the heart of the city.

When 15-year-old Jane Creba was killed on Boxing Day while shopping with her family on Yonge St. it seemed that all of Toronto was angry and on the warpath to end gun violence.

Things are eerily quiet right about now.

Stephen Harper's too busy to say anything because he's organizing his new government. Paul Martin's quietly licking his wounds. Where's Jack Layton, champion of the urban dweller? Well, he's congratulating himself and his cabinet for winning those extra seats in the election. Where's police chief Bill Blair vowing to take down the criminals? Where's Mayor David Miller? Oh, he's at the TTC press conference telling me that I'm going to have to pay more to travel by stinking bus.

Where are the throngs of concerned citizens creating makeshift memorials at the site of the murder? Where are all the protests and marches?

Where's the outrage?

Man, Chantel's death wasn't even one of the top stories on last night's news. I think that's when I really started to get angry about it. Jane Creba's death was a hot topic for a good three weeks -- Chantel's been dead, what? Three days? And already it's archived as murder #3 or 4 for 2006?

Last night on CityTV, I heard about the Grammys, the young woman and child who drowned to death in Bradford this past weekend and the TTC fare hike before mention of Chantel's death.

It's kinda eye-opening.

I know I shouldn't be shocked or surprised that Chantel's death is now a footnote and didn't create the public fervor that Jane's death did -- although it is the same situation: innocent teen gunned down in public because she was at the wrong place.

It feels like people don't give a damn when a Black youth is killed. Maybe it does take a young white girl to die to make people care about what's happening. Maybe it's alright when it's only our children and young people being killed. Maybe Jane's death stayed top news for so long 'cause it was election time.

I hope not.

I hope no more Jane Crebas or Chantel Dunns have to die for people to remember.

I remember you, Chantel. And I remember you, Livvette. And I remember all of the people who are being killed over ignorance in this city -- that includes you, Jane.

Rest in peace.