These young men took to the streets of Hamilton, Ont. to see how people would react to blatant racism directed at someone who appears to be Muslim.
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October 29, 2014 - 6:00 PM
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Canadians have come together over the past week to not only remember the lives of two soldiers who were killed in cold blood on Canadian soil, but to defend the rights of Muslims across the country.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper was quick to call the man who shot Cpl. Nathan Cirillo at the National War Memorial a terrorist. NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair stood up to say he thought the man who killed Cirillo, Michael Zehaf Bibeau, was a criminal and not a terrorist.
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau agreed with calling both men — Zehaf Bibeau and Martin Couture Rouleau, the man who ran down two soldiers outside a mall in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec — terrorists based on RCMP statements about the incidents but also urged people to wait until the investigations are done before making any judgments.
The mixed responses from our leaders reflects the confusion that can be seen around the country. Unfortunately some people have taken it to the extreme, becoming convinced all Muslims must be terrorists.
Within days of the Parliament Hill shooting, residents in Cold Lake, Alta. came to the help of a local mosque that was vandalized. People helped clean up broken windows and graffiti—'Go Home' was spray painted all over the building. Instead, they posted signs of support on the front of the building.
This week a group of young men took to the streets of Hamilton, Ont., the hometown of Cirillo, to see how people would react to blatant racism aimed at Muslims. The response was heartwarming, and very Canadian.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014