Messages of love, hope, and support were shared in front of the Civic Centre in Chatham Wednesday night as around 200 people gathered to remember six men killed in last weekend’s mosque shooting in Quebec City.
Organizer and head of the Chatham-Kent Muslim Association, Hassan Elhkodr, was overwhelmed with the turnout.
“We expected maybe 40 or 50,” Elhkodr says. “This is great to see Canadians are moved and coming out to speak that we are against wrong, we are against injustice, we are against killing.”
Larry Hutchins was one of the first to arrive at the Civic Centre with his wife, Barbara.
“Canada is a diverse nation and we need to respect each other’s diversity,” Hutchins says. “When incidents like this happen, we need to show our support for each other, and show that what happened was wrong and unacceptable in our country.”
Elhkodr says Canadians need to speak out against atrocities like the Quebec City attack.
“Whenever you see injustice, you should act against it. If you cannot, then speak against it. If you cannot, then in your heart denounce what happened.”
Another vigil is planned for tomorrow at the Community of Christ Church on Faubert Drive in Chatham, starting at 6 o’clock.
In the meantime, funerals for three of the six victims will be held in Quebec City today, with another ceremony slated for tomorrow.
