Coalition of Muslim Women host memorial vigil for family killed in London, Ont., 2 years ago

Today marks two years since an attack in London, Ont., killed four members of a Muslim family, and the Coalition of Muslim Women (CMW) will host a vigil at Kitchener city hall tonight to honour them.

The Afzaal family was out walking the evening of June 6, 2021, when a truck was driven into them, killing four members in what police allege was an act of anti-Muslim hate.

"We don't want those lives to be lost in vain," said Sarah Shafiq, CMW's director of advocacy, research and youth programming.

"It's a day full of sorrow and grief and so this really helps. The vigil, coming together — it really helps in that processing that grief and hurt that we still feel."

The interfaith vigil, to be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., will include religious leaders from different faith communities.

Snapshot of Hate report

Members of the coalition will release their second annual Snapshot of Hate report during the vigil. It includes input from people in Waterloo region on their experience with discrimination and hate.

"Discrimination is certainly the highest reported form of hate in our system," Shafiq said. "And we don't just collect anti-Muslim hate. It is anyone. Racism and xenophobia is also documented as well."

Shafiq said there's been a will to channel the pain from the Afzaal family's tragedy into action.

"At the national level we had the summit, we had the special representative on combating Islamophobia. We had municipalities who also passed motions condemning Islamophobia and vowing action, including our local municipalities. Region of Waterloo took a really brave action and funded the anti-hate service that we have. So that was really amazing," she said.

"But certainly there's a lot that still needs to be done. At the structural level, at the national level, we still have Bill 21 ... that bars women from working as school teachers, as judges because of what they wear."

The full Snapshot of Hate report will be posted on the CMW website after the presentation on Tuesday.