Hundreds, including the PM, take part in London, Ont., march to end Islamophobia
A whole bunch of individuals joined a march to commemorate the Afzaal household and to struggle anti-Islamophobia in London, Ont., on Sunday afternoon, together with the prime minister.
Greater than 1,000 individuals met at Oakridge Secondary College to take heed to speeches earlier than strolling to the London Muslim Mosque. It is a part of ongoing commemorative occasions this week to mark the one-year anniversary of the homicide of the Afzaal household, who have been killed in a hate-motivated assault whereas out for a stroll on June 6, 2021.
“They have been our associates,” mentioned Aisah Rashid, who marched together with her household. “The occasions deliberate at this time and tomorrow are serving to with the therapeutic course of, as a result of it has been a very, actually tough 12 months for the Muslim group throughout the globe, however notably in London, Ont.”
Salman Afzaal, 46, his 44-year-old spouse, Madiha Salman, their 15-year-old daughter, Yumna, and her 74-year-old grandmother, Talat Afzaal, died when a driver hit them as they waited to cross a highway. The couple’s nine-year-old son was severely damage however survived.
The person accused has been charged with 4 counts of first-degree homicide and one depend of tried homicide, in addition to related terrorism expenses.
Mates of Yumna, who was in Grade 9 at the highschool the place individuals gathered Sunday, organized the march to commemorate the teenager and to indicate solidarity. This previous 12 months, as a part of their grieving processes, they shaped a bunch known as Youth Coalition Combating Islamophobia (YCCI).
“The importance of it’s actually reclaiming the streets and having a presence in the neighborhood and giving the remainder of London the chance to indicate their solidarity once more,” mentioned organizer Selma Tobah with YCCI.
1000’s of individuals, together with politicians of each stripe, descended on London to march in the identical occasion final 12 months. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau got here again Sunday in a shock go to, assembly first with youth organizers inside the college’s library.
He thanked the scholars for his or her work combating Islamophobia and mentioned he’s honoured to affix the group for this occasion. He mentioned his authorities has finished some work to deal with Islamophobia and racism in Canada, however there may be much more work to be finished.
“Our authorities is investing within the launch of a brand new Anti-Racism Technique and a Nationwide Motion Plan to Fight Hate. We’re additionally launching a course of to nominate Canada’s first Particular Consultant on Combatting Islamophobia,” Trudeau mentioned.
