A Jesmer Was Allegedly Karate Chopped By The Prime Minister of Canada in 1969
A Jesmer Was Allegedly Karate Chopped By The Prime Minister of Canada
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Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) – August 12, 1969,
Mrs. Emma Jesmer of Niagara Falls, the youth’s grandmother, said she has expected trouble for some time. Mrs. Jesmer said her grandson got mixed up with a “Communist gang” after dropping out of Grade last year. He was always going to meetings and complaining about the government. “His father couldn’t do anything with him and a couple of months ago he went to Vancouver with two other members of the gang.”
VANCOUVER (CP) A 17-year-old, high school dropout walked into the V a n c o u v e r public safety building Monday night and swore out a common- assault complaint against Prime Minister Trudeau. But whether or not the complaint sworn by Richard Bruce Jesmer of Niagara Falls, Out., becomes a formal charge won’t be decided until Friday. Jesmer claims he was struck by (Page 4) the Prime Minister during a wild demonstration by anti-Vietnam war protesters Friday night outside the Seaforth Armoury. The demonstration preceded a $ 50-a-plate Liberal fund-raising dinner attended by Mr. Trudeau. Justice of the Peace Don Stewart, who accepted Jesmer’s complaint, said he will hear from the youth and his witnesses at p.m. Friday. “I will determine at that time if I’m going to issue a process”, he said.
In an interview before he swore out his complaint, Jesmer said he called the prime minister an obscene name during the demonstration, “then he hit me.” “He put his open hand on my face- a sort of karate thing”, said the youth. “It was a good blow and made me stagger back.” Jesmer said he became “all worked up” by the mood of the crowd and by reading a book he had on alleged Canadian complicity with U.S. “aggression” in Vietnam. Jesmer, a laborer, said he came to Vancouver Iwo months ago to find work. The sequence of events outside the armory has been the subject of conflicting reports.
The father of a boy who says he was struck by Prime Minister Trudeau in Vancouver last Friday thinks the prime minister lost his cool. Edward Jesmer says although he could not condone his son’s language during a confrontation with the Prime Minister, he didn’t think Mr. Trudeau should have hit him. “Trudeau just lost his cool. ‘The boy didn’t deserve it and I can’t see how the prime minister can go around hitting anyone who provokes him.” Richard Bruce Jesmer
Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau 1975
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RICHARD JESMER accuses Prime Minister Trudeau. Lost His Cool NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. (CP) – The father of a boy who says he was struck by Prime Minister Trudeau in Vancouver last Friday thinks the prime minister lost his cool. Edward Jesmer says although he could not condone his son’s language during a confrontation with the prime minister, he didn’t think Mr. Trudeau should have hit him. “Trudeau just lost his cool. The boy didn’t deserve it and I can’t see how’ the prime minister can go around hitting anyone who provokes him.” Richard Bruce Jesmer, 17, of Niagara Falls, Monday night swore out an information charging Mr. Trudeau with assault. Mrs. Emma Jesmer of Niagara Falls, the youth’s grandmother, said she has expected trouble for some time. Mrs. Jesmer said her grandson got mixed up with a “Communist gang” after dropping out of Grade 9 last year. He was always going to meetings and complaining about the government. “His father couldn’t do anything with him and a couple of months ago he went to Vancouver with two other members of the gang.” Hearing Set For Friday
VANCOUVER (CP) – A 17-year-old high school dropout walked into the V a n c o u v e r public safety building Monday night and swore out a common-assault complaint against Prime Minister Trudeau. But whether or not the complaint sworn by Richard Bruce Jesmer of Niagara Falls, Ont., becomes a formal charge won’t be decided until Friday. Jesmer claims he was struck by the prime minister during a wild demonstration by anti-Vietnam war protesters Friday night outside the Seaforth Armories. The demonstration preceded a $50-a-pIate Liberal fund-raising dinner attended by Mr. Trudeau. Justice of the Peace Don Stewart, who accepted Jesmer’s complaint, said he will hear evidence from the youth and his witnesses at 4:15 p.m. Friday. “I will determine at that time if I’m going to issue a process,” he said. Common assault is an indictable offence under the Criminal Code and carries a maximum penalty of two years. HE CLAIMS HE WAS HIT. In an interview before he swore out his complaint, Jesmer said he called the prime minister an obscene name during the demonstration, “then he hit me.” “He put his open hand on my face-a sort of karate thing,” said the youth. “It was a good blow and made me stagger back.” ALL WORKED UP. Jesmer said he became “all worked up and excited” by the mood of the crowd and by reading a book he had on alleged Canadian complicity with U.S. “aggression” in Vietnam. Jesmer, a laborer, said he came to Vancouver two months ago to find work. The exact sequence of events outside the armory has been the subject of conflicting reports. Many reporters missed the alleged blow struck by the prime minister because of a bushy tree that obscured their view.
https://newspaperarchive.com/lethbridge-herald-aug-12-1969-p-1/
Jesmer claims he was struck by the prime minister during a wild demonstration by anti-vietnam war protesters Friday night outside the Seaforth Armories. The demonstration preceded a $50-a-plate Liberal fund-raising dinner attended by Mr. Trudeau. Justice of the Peace Don Stewart, who accepted Jesmer’s complaint, said he will hear evidence from the youth and his witnesses at 4:15 p.m. Friday. “I will determine at that time if I’m going to issue a process,” he said. CLAIMS HE WAS HIT. In an interview before he swore out his complaint, Jesmer said he called the prime minister an obscene name’ during the demonstration, “then he hit me.” “He put his open hand on my face—a sort of karate thing,” said the youth. “It was a good blow and made me stagger back.” Jesmer said he became “all worked up and excited” by the mood of the crowd and by reading a book he had on alleged Canadian complicity with U.S. “aggression” in Vietnam. Jesmer, a laborer, said he came to Vancouver two months ago to find work. The sequence of events outside the armory has been the subject of conflicting reports. Many newspaper reporters missed the blow allegedly struck by the prime minister because of a bushy tree that obscured their view. Hilda Thomas, chairman of the Vancouver Committee to End the War in Vietnam which organized the rally outside the armory, said Mr. Trudeau was on top of a sound truck with her while she was speaking.to the crowd. “I realized there was some commotion, so I paused in my speech. Trudeau jumped around and tore a placard off a girl.”
The Prime Minister then jumped off the truck and the crowd became noisy. She said there had been considerable heckling from a group known as the Internationalists, an ultra-left organization of young people. The Internationalists, the Vancouver Student Movement and the Unemployed Welfare Improvement Council joined the committee’s rally, which Mr. Trudeau had agreed to attend. “I didn’t see him make any gestures against any person in the crowd,” said Mrs. Thomas, who added that a banana peel was thrown at Mr. Trudeau as he left the truck, hitting him on the back of his jacket. The prime minister, flanked by aides and RCMP officers, then jostled through the crowd to the armory doors. It was during this walk that the incident with Jesmer occurred. PM lost his cool: father
NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. (CP) — The father of a boy who says he was struck by Prime Minister Trudeau in Vancouver last Friday thinks the prime minister lost his cool. Edward Jesmer says although he could not condone his son’s language during a confrontation with the prime minister, he didn’t think Mr. Trudeau should have hit him. “Trudeau just lost his cool. The boy didn’t deserve it and I can’t see how the prime minister can go around hitting anyone who provokes him.” Richard Bruce Jesmer, 17, of Niagara Falls, Monday night swore out an information charging Mr. Trudeau with assault. Mrs. Emma Jesmer of Niagara Falls, the youth’s grandmother, said she has expected trouble for some time. Mrs. Jesmer said her grandson got mixed up with a “Communist gang” after dropping out of Grade 9 last year. He was always going to meetings and complaining about the government. “His father couldn’t do anything with him and a couple of months ago he went to Vancouver with two other members of the gang.” “He was a hippie,” Mrs. Jesmer said. “I’ve never heard from him, but he writes his mother. The grandmother said she was “not surprised” about the incident with the prime minister. “I think it’s a very bad thing, but he Rick must have been asking for it. I don’t feel sorry for him. He was just looking for trouble, I guess.”
https://newspaperarchive.com/medicine-hat-news-aug-12-1969-p-1/
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The Seaforth Armoury is a Canadian Forces armoury located at 1650 Burrard Street in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is the home of The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, a Primary Reserve Infantry unit. The building was designed by the architectural firm of McCarter and Nairne, and is now listed as a Class A Heritage Building.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seaforth_Armoury
1968 Liberal Party Fundraiser
August, 1969
Intermedia was invited to produce site specific audio/visual installations at the Seaforth Armory for Pierre Trudeau’s 1969 Liberal Party Fundraiser. Pierre Trudeau gave an address to his supporters and jazz singer Eve Smith and the regimental band provided entertainment.
http://intermedia.vancouverartinthesixties.com/1969/113
Searching where Rick shows up in the Jesmer family tree
Marriage Date – Eddie Jesmer & Emma
From May Jesmer Family Bible.
Edward (Joseph Edwin) Jesmer (1885-1930)
Father: Moses Jesmer. Birth: date – Stormont. Ontario, Canada Births, 1858-1913. Birth, Baptism & Christening View Image.
Name: Joseph Edwin Jesmer. Father: Moses Jesmer. Birth: date – Stormont …
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