National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack
On January 29, 2017, six Muslim men were shot dead in a Québec City mosque. An armed white nationalist terrorist went on a shooting rampage in the Islamic Cultural Centre in Sainte-Foy, Québec, just after evening prayers. The Government of Canada recognized that Islamophobia, hatred and radicalization—and the denial of these realities—were at the root of this horrifying crime. Yet six years later, Islamophobia is still rampant across the country. We have not only seen an increase in hate crimes against Muslims but also an increase in online hate and cyberviolence.
Last year, January 29th was officially marked as the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia in a move to honour the victims, and to promote action against Islamophobia. This day is meant to honour the victims and to serve as a reminder of the continuous work that needs to be done to eradicate Islamophobia, hate and racism in Canada.
CCMW urges the Canadian Government to take action against Islamophobia and hate. Canadians who face Islamophobia, xenophobia and all forms of hate and discrimination should not feel alone in this fight. We deserve to know that our leaders are on our side and are committed to combating hate and discrimination. It is up to the Government to ensure that our physical and online spaces do not incite hatred and cause the loss of more innocent lives.
CCMW joins community members, allies, and elected representatives to commemorate the lives lost in the Quebec City incident and express solidarity with the survivors. We are committed to raising awareness about the devastating impact of Islamophobia and stand with all individuals and organizations serving Muslim communities in their fight against hate and Islamophobia.
We encourage anyone impacted by Islamophobia to seek support and invite you to stand with us by joining the Green Square Campaign.
Digital Anti-Racism Education
CCMW’s Digital Anti-Racism Education (D.A.R.E.) Program starts conversations around racism and trains communities across Canada, equipping them with tools and resources to effectively counter Islamophobia and cyberhate. The D.A.R.E. program has provided Anti-Islamophobia and Countering Cyberhate workshops to thousands of individuals across Canada, and launched the #Hate2Healing campaign that aims at highlighting lived experiences of Islamophobia and racism, shared by Canadian Muslim women, girls and non-binary people. For more information about the D.A.R.E.2 Project, please visit: daretobeaware.ca