The Sarnia Muslim Association on London Line. March 21, 2019. (Photo by Josh Boyce, BlackburnNews)The Sarnia Muslim Association on London Line. March 21, 2019. (Photo by Josh Boyce, BlackburnNews)
Sarnia

Community urged to show solidarity in response to Mosque attacks

The Sarnia Muslim Association and Local Immigration Partnership are inviting the community to send a message that bigotry and hatred are not acceptable.

Aruba Mahmud, co-organizer of a solidarity event Friday at city hall, said they want to promote mutual understanding and inclusiveness.

She said it's unfortunate to see such a cesspool of misinformation and hatred online.

"Online is where you become radicalized," said Mahmud. "That's where you can find extremism on both ends, anti-Muslim, Islamophobic extremism. The Quebec Mosque attacker, and the New Zealand attacker, both of them have been shown that they were radicalized online, online there is a lot of misinformation."

Mahmud said the community is welcome to attend an event Friday in response to the tragic attacks March 15 in Christchurch, New Zealand that killed 50 people and injured numerous others.

The gathering will be held at 5:30 p.m. in front of Sarnia City Hall.

"We had some events after the Mosque attacks in Quebec that went really well and it helped us feel supported, and sent a message that bigotry and hatred are not acceptable," Mahmud said.

-With Files From Josh Boyce

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