While many kids are playing video games and couldn't care less about Truth & Justice in Ontario, Jason is going against peer presure and taking a stand against what he believes in.

This is a rare quality in such a young man so I wondered where he gets this strong view of Law & Order. It appears that Jason comes from a strong family of OPP officers. His Cousin is Ken Smith who is the Regional Commander of the Central Region of Ontario and there are other OPP officers in the family tree as well.

You can see Jason Smith in the photo to the right with a billboard around him - a lone soldier for Justice. On the front of the billboard it states, "McGuinty two face Harper do-little" and on the back are the words, "OPP MELT kiss my..." with an arrow to his butt.

Jason and his father Jim Smith were out picketing the sidewalk on Friday Sept. 15th and again the next day. Jason states the following took place:

"It all started when we were in front of Caledonia video or Slack's plaza protesting - it was Saturday Sept 16, everything was going good till about twenty to seven when Mr. xxxx came out and said to me what is that what they teach you kid's

And I said what, and he said I don't like the sign, and then he said you're lucky the opp are here, and I said why, they aren't doing anything, then he said my tenants are complaining. I said are you the owner and he said yes, and I said oh, and then he said leave, we can do this the easy way or the hard way, so I went to go and he grabbed my sign. I was with a new friend we met the night before. He was about 10 years old or so, name unknown, anyway, I went to cross the street after he ripped the sign off me because I had the sign attached to my body, and he was  going to punch me so I got to the other side of the street where my dad was standing"

We have spoken with other eye witnesses and they confirm the details of Jason's story. But what made the whole thing worse were the actions and attitudes of the OPP. As you can see from the photo Jason was on the sidewalk which is public property. The OPP, at the request of Mr. xxxx, attempted to charge Jason with trespassing.

As Jason and his father attempted to explain that Jason had just been assaulted by this man the OPP turned on the pressure to ensure that no assault charges were filed.

Jason states, "I crossed the street, I did’t find this out till I crossed the street anyway, then Mr. xxxx went to talk to the OPP which was parked in the Tim Horton’s driveway, and my dad took his camera to take his picture from a safe distance, and my dad said to the OPP, Officer I want this man charged with assaulting my son. If that was bad enough he went after my dad after what my dad said to the OPP. about charging him with assault, he came up to my dad and punched him. Luckily my dad blocked it and just got a soft punch to the right of his chest. So after he blocked Mr. xxxx he put his hands down to show the officer in his car that he wasn't going to hit him. The OPP Officer ran over and moved Mr. xxxx back to a safe distance and we had to wait for the officer's supervisor to show up."

When other OPP officers came to the scene one female OPP took it upon herself to call Jason names. Jason states, "She was the rudest OPP Officer ever. She called us names telling us to quit yelling and to shut up. When we tried to speak she called us hoodlums and goons and said we were racist against the OPP. And she went in the garbage and ripped our signs up and said that our sign's are borderline to be charged"

After agreeing not to press assault charges against Mr. Slack in return for trespassing charges not being laid against Jason they went home. Jason then states, "we realized we should have asked for her badge #... we decided to go to Seneca unity school to talk to her boss and we waited for him to come out. When he did we told him how we were just verbally assaulted by one of his officer's. He knew our names, he said hi Jim and Jason Smith and shook our hands as if he was excepting us to show up. He told us what he heard from the officers and Mr. xxxx and it was all lies. We told him what really happened. My dad talked about how Ipperwash has no police protection at all and that was unacceptable... They didn't like that so Mr.Fishwell, I think his name was, said you're still not over Victoria day, it was like 3 month's ago... anyway he knew which police officer we were talking about. When we asked him for her badge # he said, 'I will discipline her' "

They left without getting her badge #. Jason concludes, "I guess there is no such thing as freedom of speech. I couldn't believe what happened with Mr. xxxx and that nasty OPP Female officer."

But his spirit has not been dampened. He and his father are strong supporters of the March for Freedom on Oct 15.

We thank them for their support and we look forward to meeting this young man who is standing as the Justice Fighter.

I have just read your report on the story about Jason Smith and his recent experience on the sidewalk in Caledonia.  I am a retired OPP Commissioned Officer.  During the latter part of my 30 year career I served in various management leadership positions.  I know from personal experience gained during my field exposure that there are always two sides to every story.

There will be to this story too, nevertheless, I feel compelled to comment.  If the facts as related by Jason and as witnessed by his father are essentially correct, the behavior of my brother and sister OPP officers surprises me and based on my experience is completely unacceptable. 

The unwillingness of the constable(s) and their supervisor to provide badge numbers is as I recall is contrary to OPP policy.  I am left to wonder what has happened in recent months to the outstanding police service whose uniform I wore with pride.  I hope Jason pursues this issue and makes a formal complaint against those OPP members who  as he claims, failed in such a blatant way to treat him with respect while carrying out their enforcement duties.

There was a day within the OPP when disrespect for citizens on either side of the law was never tolerated.  I am embarrassed by the reported actions of these OPP officers.  If I could I would shake Jason's hand and offer him my congratulations for his willingness to risk exercising his right of citizenship even if his message was distasteful to the OPP.

Perhaps the next time Jason takes to the sidewalks of Caledonia he will carry a tape recorder and ask his dad to video tape his actions and OPP reactions.