Photo by Maud Rostaing
The Council of Canadians South Niagara chapter was at a candlelight vigil with more than 500 people last night in response to the attack on the Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec that left six people dead and eight wounded.
The St. Catharines Standard reports, “A steady flow of supporters, joined members of Niagara’s Muslim community as they prayed on the steps [of St. Catharines city hall], before marching in solidarity to the Masjid An-Noor mosque on Geneva Street. Most people, like Felix Pozojevic, were there to support the Muslim community. She said she is still pretty heated about the immigration ban in the United States as it relates to predominantly Muslim countries. Sunday’s attack in Quebec City came two days after President Donald Trump’s executive order implementing restrictions. ‘It [what happened in Quebec City] shows that kind of racism is in Canada, too.'”
South Niagara chapter activist Fiona McMurran tells us, “Five of us from the chapter were among the hundreds and hundreds of local residents at the vigil in St. Catharines honouring the six men killed in the mosque in Saint Foy on Sunday night. It was a remarkable outpouring of love and support for our Muslim friends and neighbours and members of the St. Catharines mosque.”
The South Niagara chapter will also be participating in this Saturday’s National Day of Action against Islamophobia and White Supremacy.
McMurran has also shared an opinion piece in TheTyee.ca that says, “On a weekend when tens of thousands of Americans filled airports to protest Trump’s undemocratic and illegal ban on Muslims, Canadians can and must do more than be shocked and sad and surprised when a racist, terrorist act happens within our borders. If your thoughts and prayers are with the victims, your money and your time should be, too. Get involved in anti-discrimination efforts in your community. Call out racism and intolerance when you see it happen — especially when it comes from someone you love. Make it meaningful. Let it be awkward.”
The Council of Canadians calls on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to reject US President Donald Trump’s ban that prohibits people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States, for the Minister of Immigration to present a plan in the House of Commons on how to address this situation, and for the federal government to immediately rescind the Safe Third Country agreement with the United States.
The Council of Canadians supports diversity and inclusion, and rejects racism and Islamophobia.
#NoBanNoWall
