As the one year anniversary of the fatal attack of a Muslim family nears, the City of London is making it clear the Afzaal's will not be forgotten.
The city, in partnership with ten community organizations and agencies, have organized five days of events to be held next month to both honour the Afzaal family and combat Islamophobia.
Salman Afzaal, 46, his wife Madiha Salman, 44, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna Afzaal and 9-year-old son Fayez Salman, and Salman Afzaal’s 74-year-old mother Talat Afzaal were out for an evening walk on June 6 of last year when a pickup truck mounted the curb at Hyde Park and South Carriage roads and hit them before speeding off. Fayez Salman was the lone survivor of the attack. London police have said there is evidence the attack was a planned, premeditated act motivated by hate. Nathaniel Veltman, 21, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. His trial has been set for September 5, 2023.
The first of the planned events to mark the one year anniversary of the deadly hit-and-run will take place on June 3. The Muslim Wellness Network will host a Remembering Our London Family Open House at 990 Gainsborough Road from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on that date.
On June 5, the Youth Coalition Combatting Islamophobia will lead an Our London Family March starting at Oakridge Secondary School and ending at the London Muslim Mosque. Opening remarks are scheduled for 2 p.m.
There will be five events taking place throughout the day on June 6. The day begins with an Our London Family Prayer Service at the Islamic Cemetery from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Then the city will hold a formal dedication ceremony of the Our London Family Community Garden at Maple Grove Park at 1 p.m. Students from the Thames Valley District School Board and London District Catholic School Board will be completing the walk the Afzaal's weren't able to throughout the day. At 4 p.m., the London Muslim Mosque will launch a community art gallery dedicated to the Afzaals. The day will end with a vigil at the Memorial Plaza at Hyde Park and South Carriage roads at 7 p.m. With the exception of the student walk, everyone is invited to attend the anniversary events.
Focus shifts to bringing attention to Islamophobia on June 7 and 8 with two anti-islamophobia workshops scheduled. Details about the workshops will be released later this month. Registration will be required to attend.
The city has said it is holding the five days of events in "hopes of continuing the healing for the community" in the wake of the attack.
It is also expected city politicians will issue a proclamation to make June 6 a day of remembrance for Our London Family. The London and Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership requested the proclamation, which received unanimous support at council’s corporate services committee on Monday. It goes to full council for final approval on May 24.