A vigil at Waverley Park to acknowledge the four people lost and one seriously injured after what was apparently an anti-Muslim attack in London.
Various political and religious leaders spoke Wednesday night, voicing their disappointment with what occurred, many acknowledging systemic racism.
There were understandably many emotional speeches carried out by people from a variety of backgrounds and beliefs, all there to show their respect and support.
Imam Hikma Sherzad from the Thunder Bay Mosque believes if the attack could occur in London, it could happen closer to home as well.
“I don’t think that person reflects London itself. Regardless of how many great people we have here in Thunder Bay, these events only take one person to cause great damage,” remarked Sherzad. “Aside from that, the Thunder Bay community has been great to us. I don’t see this happening in Thunder Bay but I’m pretty sure people in London didn’t see it happening there.”
The Imam went onto share a letter he last read after the Quebec Mosque shooting in 2017, where six Muslim worshippers lost their lives in a racist attack.
Imam concluded by saying he hopes to return the letter to the shoebox that has housed it since the shooting, and never have to read it in a setting such as this again.
Mayor Bill Mauro also spoke, saying he has had discussions with London Mayor Ed Holder about the deaths, who was appreciative of Thunder Bay for their effort to honour those lost in the tragedy.
Mauro echoed other speakers at the vigil, knowing racially motivated crimes can happen anywhere, and that it is the responsibility of all in Thunder Bay to prevent them.
“We try to ensure that as best we are able, we educate ourselves in Thunder Bay and we don’t see this happen here in our city because of course, if it happens in London it can happen in Thunder Bay, and it can happen in any community,” Mauro stated.
Thunder Bay Superior-North MP Patty Hajdu also gave a speech, starting off very emotionally before composing herself and providing some powerful words.
“Commit today that we will always speak out for the voiceless, for the powerless, for the oppressed, and that we won’t tolerate it, and that we’ll use the power we have to change the structures that are inherently violent for so many people,” delivered Hajdu. “I grieve tonight with the Muslim community, with Canada, with Canadians, with the Indigenous community, and the many other people that routinely and everyday experience systemic racism and hatred in their lives.”
Many other vigils have been occurring across the nation after the tragedy in London.
The issue of anti-Muslim hate is without a doubt at the forefront, many across the country looking for answers.
LISTEN: Imam Hikmatillah Sherzad said this was the extreme end of the spectrum when it comes to anti-Muslim crimes, but incidents of all varieties occur consistently in Canada.