Yahoo Finance ‘Don’t ask how this could happen…Hate is a Canadian reality’: PM Trudeau, shocked residents say racism, Islamophobia is a part of the Canada we know
On Monday, London, Ont., police confirmed that a family of five were killed and injured in a targeted hit and run, described as an "intentional act and that the victims were targeted because of their Islamic faith."
Three adults and one teen were killed in the attack, and a nine-year-old boy remains in hospital.
A statement from the the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) states that the group is "beyond horrified and demands justice" after the attack.
"This is a terrorist act on Canadian soil, and should be treated be treated as such," the statement from Mustafa Farooq, CEO of MCCN reads. "We call on the government to prosecute the attacked to the fullest extent of the law, including considering terrorist charges."
In the House of Commons on Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recognized that this was a hate-motivated terrorist attack saying, "this killing was no accident, this was a terrorism attack motivated by hatred in the heart of one of our communities."
"As leader and as Canadians we not only have to say enough is enough, we must take action," Trudeau said. "We cannot allow any form of hate to take root because the consequences can be far too serious."
If anyone thinks racism and hatred don't exist in this country, I ask to them this, how do we explain such violence and that child in hospital? How can we look families in the eye and say Islamophobia isn't real? When you listen to the Black Muslim women who constantly looks over her shoulder at the bus stop fearing someone will pull off her hijab or hurt her, she'll tell you Islamophobia exists.PM Justin Trudeau
"If you listen to the parents who beg their children not to wear traditional clothes for fear of them being harassed or attack simply for what they're wearing, I'll tell you racism exists... It is on all of us to understand that experience, be there to support to help. We can and we must act," Trudeau urged.
While the local police have indicated they are working RCMP on possible terrorism charge, Canadians are calling out this violent, heartbreaking attack, particularly stressing that these tragedies do happen in Canada. Islamophobia, racism, discrimination, white supremacy all exist in Canadians society, and concrete actions, accountability and justice are being demanded.
Getting murdered while being out on a walk with your family because of the colour of your skin and your faith is what happens in Canada. It literally JUST happened. Don't ask how could this happen because Islamophobia, racism, and hate is a Canadian reality.
— Simran Singh (@SimranRoohi) June 7, 2021
Canada is a country where a Muslim family in London, Ontario, just out for a walk gets intentionally hit by a car (killing 4), but we still continue to pride ourselves on "multiculturalism."
Canada needs to stop denying the existence of #Islamophobia, and other forms of racism!— Dr. Amit Arya (@AmitAryaMD) June 7, 2021
It shouldn’t take a Muslim family getting brutally murdered while going on an evening pandemic walk to recognize that racism and Islamophobia exist. Muslims & racialized Canadians experience racism everyday - at work, in schools, at borders, in public spaces, in sports. #ldnont
— Muhannad Malas - (مهنّد) (@mmalas) June 8, 2021
Hate crimes against Muslims in Canada have been overlooked and outright dismissed all this time. That is part of the reason we see these violent acts escalating and increasing.
Enough is enough. https://t.co/obmGnQr5jM— Nur Al (@_Nur_Al) June 7, 2021
Please don’t text & let me know how “shocked” you are…
If you have been listening & reflecting over the past 10 years - this should not shock you but confirm the truth of how *many* Canadians view Muslims.
Our students even know it, and feel it.#ldnont #londonontario pic.twitter.com/dfWLILKawQ— Zohrin Mawji (@ZohrinM) June 7, 2021
A family of 5 in London, ON were deliberately struck by a motorist just for being Muslim, 4 have died.
Don’t tell us #Islamophobia doesn’t exist in Canada. Don’t tell us racism doesn’t exist in Canada.
Don’t tell us that the hate we feel every day for just existing isn’t real.— Naheed Dosani (@NaheedD) June 7, 2021
In response to the attack on the Muslim family in London, Ontario - its fair to say “this isn’t the Canada we want”.
It’s totally inaccurate to say “This isn’t (my/our) Canada”.
Yes it is. Racism is part of our colonial history and is a present reality for many Canadians.— RevDaniel (@RevDaniel) June 8, 2021
I told my mom she shouldn’t take walks (often in shalwar kameez and a duputta) in the evening after dinner, especially by herself. She told me that she worries every time I’m out that someone would try to run me off the road.
So yeah. We’re not okay. #cdnpoli #ldnont https://t.co/c3ze8vJCqd— Sarah Mushtaq (@SarahMushMush) June 7, 2021
There is a young child fighting for his life in hospital right now. He likely doesn’t know his entire family was murdered by a degenerate in a terrorist act of cowardice. Today, that child belongs to all of us. He is a son of our community & we are all his family. #LdnOnt
— Ali Chahbar (@AliChahbar) June 7, 2021
These last few months have been freshly relentless, enacting violence in so many forms. In #ldnont, a child orphaned by nothing but hate. This particular target of white supremacy is a burden borne by Muslims and anyone mistaken to be one. Please hold your loved ones close.
— Shree Paradkar//श्री पराडकर 🍁 (@ShreeParadkar) June 8, 2021
Many of our families go for evening walks — my mom often in her hijab and shalwar kamiz. And now, we have to be afraid to do that? Hyper-aware of what is around us? That family is ours. Madiha could’ve been any of our mothers. We are a community heartbroken and grieving. #ldnont
— Zahra Vaid (she/her) (@zahravaid) June 7, 2021
