Jun. 6, 2002. 01:00 AM

Let the media in
The public has a right to know about details of spanking trial

Media fight gag order at spanking trial, June 4.

I support the media initiative fighting the gag order. How can anyone justify covering up the story of Christian fundamentalists who use corporal punishment to the extent that Family and Children's Services felt the need to remove their kids? It is bizarre for the judge to agree that media coverage would further harm the children in question, especially in the wake of Randal Dooley's face being splashed all over national news.

I fail to see how these children will be harmed more than those of the Jamaican Canadian community who may have identified with Randal. The courts found Randal's parents guilty and they may well find these parents guilty, too.

Whether we like it or not, we live in a racist society and the media coverage of the Dooley case did little to fight the implied demonization of the Jamaican Canadian community in much of the coverage.

Although we know observers will not conclude from the current trial that all white folks beat their kids, it seems fair that the Christian fundamentalist community in question should at least be subjected to the same scrutiny as any other.

Jennifer L. Johnson

North York