Vanier College Stands in Solidarity with Victims of Quebec City Shootings
“Tout le monde déteste les racistes!” chanted the crowd at Parc metro
Around 8pm Sunday night, January 29th 2017, a gunman open fired inside the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City during their prayer time and killed six people while injuring eight others. Two arrests were made later but one of them was released as a witness and the other is now being charged. The shooter, Alexandre Bissonnette, turned himself in to the police. Any reasons or motives remain unknown for the time being.
To show respect to the victims, students and staff at Vanier College held a vigil outside the front steps of the school at noon on Monday to show that they stand together and that they won’t be shaken by such acts. History teacher Eric Lamoureux, English teacher Alan Wong and the vice president of the Vanier Muslim Club inspired students to remain strong given that the attack happened so close to home. All those who were present were asked to lower their heads in a minute of silence for the deceased and the injured.
Later that day, many Muslims as well as non-Muslims gathered outside of Parc metro at a candlelight vigil, in freezing conditions to show their own love and support. Muslims being the visible minority that night. Speakers from the crowd went up to the podium to share their message, their prayer, their hopes and their dreams to all those present and voiced what they would like to bring attention to. By 7pm the vigil ended and the crowd dispersed.
On Tuesday the government of Quebec asked all public institutions including Vanier college to lower their flag to the half way point to represent the feelings of the Quebec government as well as the feelings of the people.
Written By: Mohammed Choudhury
