Ottawa vigil mourns victims of synagogue shooting - Action News
Home WebMail Saturday, November 23, 2024, 09:38 AM | Calgary | -12.0°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
Ottawa

Ottawa vigil mourns victims of synagogue shooting

Dozens of people gathered at the Canadian Monument for Human Rights in Ottawa on Sunday for a candlelight vigil to commemorate the 11 victims who died at the Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday.

Gathered at Canadian Monument for Human Rights to remember those who died in Pittsburgh Saturday

People gather in Ottawa for vigil to remember Pittsburgh shooting victims

6 years ago
Duration 0:38
Dozens of people gathered in Ottawa on Sunday for a candlelight vigil to commemorate the victims of a shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, and to push back against anti-Semitism.

Dozens of people gatheredat the Canadian Monument for Human Rights in Ottawa on Sundayfor a candlelight vigil to commemorate the 11 victims who died at thePittsburgh synagogue on Saturday.

People came out to attend the vigil,which was billed as both a way to commemoratethe victims and to push back againstanti-Semitismand xenophobia.

Cory Balsam, who attended the vigil, saidthe eventprovided aspace to start healing.

"The message was really one of unification against the rise of the extreme right around the world," he said. "[It] was a healing space where people came together to oppose what happened in Pittsburgh."

People at the Canadian Tribute to Human Rights in Ottawa for the vigil on Sunday. (Radio-Canada)

Officials in Pittsburgh released the names of the 11 victims on Sunday. They ranged in age from 54 to 97 years old.

Gunman Robert Bowers, 46, was arrested at the scene and has been charged with 30 state crimes and 29 federal ones. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has said that Bowers could face the death penalty.

Uniting against hatred

DaraLithwickspoke at the event in Ottawa, calling for unity against xenophobia and hatred.

"I invite us allto pledge together to listen, to be open to learning from the experiences of others, [and] to be as compassionate and caring as we can be."

A vigil was held in Ottawa on Sunday to remember the 11 people killed in a shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue. (Radio-Canada)

"I think the message tonight was one of love and of reaching outside oneself," she said."It's amazing seeing everybody here in solidarity to do that."

Other vigils were held across Canada including in Montreal, Halifax and Vancouver.