People gathered in Halifax Saturday night for an anti-cyberbullying concert to honour Rehtaeh Parsons, but her family said even in death their daughter is being attacked online.
According to Parsons's mother, four boys sexually assaulted her daughter when she was 15. Rehtaeh was then said to have been mocked by classmates, enduring relentless harassment and humiliation after a photo of the attack was circulated at her Cole Harbour, N.S. school and on social media.
On April 7, Rehtaeh was taken off life support after attempting suicide a few days earlier. She was 17.
The Pavilion is Halifax's only all-ages concert venue for teenagers like Rehtaeh.
“She had come to events here, her friends have come to events here,” said organizer Chris Smith.
He said as a father, Rehtaeh's story hit a nerve with him.
“I think it's very disappointing and sad to see a young woman sort of in the prime of her life get cut down like this.”
Five bands have signed on to play, including Gloryhound.
“It's just such a shame that this bullying still happens, especially with today's social media, it can be used to an advantage but at the same time, it's such a bad thing because with bullying it just compounds it like tenfold,” said member Evan Meisner.
Rehtaeh was a known animal lover and all the proceeds from the show are going to the Nova Scotia SPCA.
Organizers said they hope the show will also start a dialogue with young people about cyberbullying, but hours before the concert started there was a glimpse online into the kind of harassment her family said led to her suicide.
On Saturday a Facebook page popped up disrespecting Parsons using disturbing images and derogatory comments.
Others shot back defending her memory.
Rehtaeh's father Glen Canning asked Facebook to remove it, but was told in an email Facebook was not able to confirm if the page violated their standards.
But a few hours after CBC News contacted Facebook, they replied saying the page has been removed.
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