A style of rap music known for its violent lyrics posted online by rival gangs is fuelling gang-related homicides in Canada, says an expert with an organization devoted to raising awareness about gang issues and youth violence.
Last year, Canada had the highest number of gang-related homicides on record, according to Statistics Canada data released Nov. 21.
Canada’s homicide rate overall rose by 3 percent in 2021 compared with 2020, to 2.06 homicides per 100,000 people, with the greatest increases in Ontario (to 277 homicides) and British Columbia (to 125 homicides). Nationwide, police services reported 788 homicides, with 184, nearly a quarter of them, gang-related.
“I can tell you right now social media is fuelling a lot of the violence,” said Andrew Hammond, vice president of the non-profit Ontario Gang Investigators Association (ONGIA), in an interview with The Epoch Times….