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Rally in front of Quebec City U.S. Consulate protests racism in solidarity with Charlottesville

A rally against racism, in solidarity with Charlottesville, was held Wednesday evening in front of the Consulate General of the U.S. in Quebec City.

American tourists joined the gathering, saying they were against white supremacists

CBC News ·
Several dozens gathered in front of the U.S. Consulate General in Quebec City for a rally against racism, following white supremacist demonstrations in Charlottesville, Virginia, which turned violent last week. (Julia Page/CBC)

A rally against racism, in solidarity with Charlottesville, Virginia, was held Wednesday evening in front of the Consulate General of the U.S. in Quebec City. 

Several dozen people gathered in front of the consulate, which is at the heart of Old Quebec and steps away from the Château Frontenac, to say "no to hate and racism," a news release sent beforehand said. 

It's tourist season in Quebec City with many visiting from the United States and several Americans joined the crowd.

They also said they didn't see themselves in the rhetoric of the white supremacists that demonstrated in Charlottesville last week.

American tourists join in

Pete Vunck said he watched in horror at what was happening. He is from Richmond, Virginia, an hour drive from Charlottesville. 

"We were very concerned by what's happening and overly concerned about how our supposed president is acting, and we're not happy with him at all, " said Vunck, who'd come with a group of fellow Americans whose tour guide told them about the rally. 

A group of American tourists attended the rally after they were told about it from their tour guide. A woman came with a printed portrait of Heather Heyer, who was killed during the white supremacist demonstration in Charlottesville last week. (Julia Page/CBC)

Linda James from Huntsville, Alabama, said she wanted to show her support to those fighting racism in the U.S., saying it "breaks our hearts and embarrasses us," and that what happened in Virginia "was just horrific and we're still trying to deal with that."

'Whatever happens around us affects us'

A woman she was with carried a printed black and white picture of Heather Heyer, the 32-year-old woman who was killed when a car charged a crowd of counter protesters in Charlottesville Saturday. 

Organizer Jackie Smith said the rally's goal was in response to the Virginia demonstrations' "premeditated violence."

"Whatever happens around us affects us. And we want a better, more equal, more loving society," she said.

Smith added that Quebec wasn't immune to hate, pointing to the shooting at a Quebec City mosque just eight months ago that killed six men. 

with files from CBC's Julia Page

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