Vigil

Vigil held at U of T Scarborough to mourn victims of terrorist attack in Sri Lanka

noreen.rasbach — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 20:23:47 +0000

Vigil held at U of T Scarborough to mourn victims of terrorist attack in Sri Lanka

noreen.rasbach Fri, 04/26/2019 - 16:23

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Chemi Lhamo of the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union holds up a picture of victims of Sunday's attack in Sri Lanka during Friday's vigil (photo by Don Campbell)

Alexa Battler

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Global Lens

Global

Graduate Students

Sri Lanka

U of T Scarborough

Undergraduate Students

Vigil

Tharscika Ramaneekaran spent her childhood surviving Sri Lanka’s 26-year civil war.

“Since the war ended, people at least had hope, they had confidence to dream about a peaceful life, and that’s being shaken again because of [Sunday's] attack,” said Ramaneekaran, a third-year student and culture director of the University of Toronto Scarborough’s Tamil Students’ Association (TSA).

“I don’t want that division to happen again, so this is like a nightmare for me.”

U of T Scarborough hosted a vigil Friday for victims of the attack in Colombo, which left at least 253 dead and hundreds more injured. The event was organized by the TSA and the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union (SCSU).

“It is important that we come together to share our combined condemnation of this atrocious attack on individuals who were in places that you would hope to find sanctuary,” Wisdom Tettey, vice-president and principal of U of T Scarborough, told the crowd.

“This pain does not just end with this service and this day. Members of our community will continue to feel the impact of this and it behooves all of us to be there with them, supporting them.”

Terrorists detonated a series of bombs in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday. Three churches across Sri Lanka – two Catholic and one Protestant – and several hotels were attacked.

Third-year student Kayona Karunakumar was born in Colombo and attended the vigil on behalf of U of T Scarborough’s branch of Power to Change, an interdenominational Christian organization. She says the attack brought back tragic and painful memories, but she hopes students left the vigil feeling loved.

“I do not grieve as someone who has no hope, because I believe that I will see those Christians one day in heaven,” she says.

Vigil participants sign a solidarity banner with messages of love and support (photo by Alex Wong)

Gary Anandasangaree, member of Parliament for Scarborough-Rouge Park, condemned the attacks and offered condolences on behalf of the Canadian government at the vigil. Anandasangaree was born in Sri Lanka and came to Canada as a refugee at age 10.

“It’s a country where racial and religious harmony isn’t being fostered, and it’s a message for us as Canadians, because we’re living in an era where we too are facing these challenges, where we too are being asked a question of who we are as a people,” he said.

Anandasangaree encouraged attendees to leave “with the resolve that we will not tolerate division, or the sense of hatred that’s permeating around the world.”

TSA president Kanitha Uthayakumar says this is why she prayed for the safety of Christians and Muslims, and the recovery of everyone affected.

“Because it is also exam time, we want to support all students who were impacted and have an open space to pray and come together,” says Uthayakumar, who came to Canada from Sri Lanka as a child.

Two of U of T Scarborough’s chaplains, Pastor Mark Devanathan and Pastor Johnson Hsu, also addressed the crowd. Devanathan, lead pastor of U of T Scarborough’s Campus Church, was born in northern Sri Lanka and recounted his family’s terrified attempts to contact relatives in Colombo after the attacks. Thankfully, they were all safe.

But he said he is “broken that many did not hear back.”

After the speeches, attendees signed a solidarity banner with messages of love and support. The banner is hanging in the Student Centre, where a decompression space was also offered to students.

“No matter what, UTSC will continue to show up and continue to pledge to work together for a better world until there is no need for these vigils,” said Chemi Lhamo, vice-president of equity at the SCSU.

Read U of T President Meric Gertler's statement on Sri Lanka

‘I refuse to walk in this world afraid’: U of T community remembers Pittsburgh synagogue shooting victims

Romi Levine — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 16:18:29 +0000

‘I refuse to walk in this world afraid’: U of T community remembers Pittsburgh synagogue shooting victims

Romi Levine Wed, 10/31/2018 - 12:18

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Members of the U of T community gathered for a vigil outside of University College Tuesday evening (all photos by Romi Levine)

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At a vigil held at the University of Toronto on Tuesday, honouring the victims of the attack on a synagogue in Pittsburgh, the message was clear: show defiance in the face of hatred.

“I refuse to walk in this world afraid. I refuse to walk through this world responding to the violence done to my people with a closed tent or a closed fist. Because that is how they win,” Rabbi Julia Appel, senior Jewish educator and campus rabbi for Hillel at U of T, said during an impassioned address to the crowd gathered around University College’s front steps.

This past Saturday, a gunman opened fire in Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue, killing 11 people who were gathered for Shabbat services – including U of T alumna Joyce Fienberg.

“They were the early risers, the helpers, the greeters, the service leaders, the regulars, the ones who make synagogues around the world work,” said Appel of the victims.

The news sent shockwaves throughout U.S. and Canadian Jewish communities, which were devastated by the latest horrific act of anti-Semitism. In the wake of the tragedy, those communities – including U of T’s Hillel chapter – received support and messages of solidarity from other religious and non-denominational groups. Many of those groups were present at Tuesday’s vigil, organized by Hillel in partnership with U of T and the Multi-Faith Centre.

“The outpouring of support from so many partners and friends on campus since Saturday makes me feel less alone and less scared,” said Aaron Rotenberg, interim director of Hillel at U of T. “Seeing all of you here gathering, mourning, reflecting with us makes me feel less alone and less scared. Thank you. Thank you for being here.”

A woman holds a message of solidarity at Tuesday's vigil.

U of T President Meric Gertler was also in attendance, along with Provost Cheryl Regehr and Lieutenant-Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell.

President Gertler offered his condolences earlier this week in a message to the U of T community.

“In the wake of this senseless and appalling massacre, we are reminded, again, of the grim toll that antisemitism and racism exact on society,” he said in a statement.

U of T President Meric Gertler and Elizabeth Dowdeswell, the lieutenant-governor of Ontario, attended the vigil.

Appel, the rabbi, urged those attending the vigil to open themselves up to others who need help inside and outside the Jewish community, rather than retreat inwards.

“We know the ways in which trauma can harden the heart. Let us take our hurt, our fear, our anger and our devastation and turn around to take action toward a better world… Because our people were refugees on these shores, let no one else be turned back to certain death,” she said.

Rotenberg recited a poem entitled Poem Without an End by Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai.

This latest incident of anti-Semitism doesn’t exist in a vacuum, said Rotenberg.

“I believe the different kinds of hatred all of our communities face are nested inside each other – hate for Jews, for Muslims, for people of colour, trans folk, queer folk, women, those differently abled, those who are neuro-diverse, immigrants, refugees like those at the congregation Tree of Life stood up for,” he said. “We cannot just knock out one hate and leave the other. Our safety is bound up in yours. Our love for one another needs to be strong enough to strengthen all of us.”

"It could have been my children. It could have been my grandmother. I've been to that synagogue to pray. It could have been me," said Rabbi Julia Appel of Saturday's attack.

"I have a lot of friends in the Jewish community so I wanted to show my support for them and everything that happened," said history and classics student Rhea Kunar.

A candle was lit for each person killed in the synagogue shooting.

Vigil attendees held each other close.

Hundreds gather for vigil at University of Toronto in memory of those killed at Quebec City mosque

lanthierj — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 01:56:07 +0000

Hundreds gather for vigil at University of Toronto in memory of those killed at Quebec City mosque

lanthierj Mon, 01/30/2017 - 20:56

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(all photos by Geoffrey Vendeville)

Geoffrey Vendeville

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Geoffrey Vendeville

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Hundreds gathered at U of T's downtown Toronto campus tonight to remember the six people murdered at a Quebec City mosque on Sunday.

Students, faculty, politicians and leaders of different faiths called for peace and inclusion.

“Without love, without hope, without support, we have nothing but walls,” Dalia Hashim, the president of U of T’s Muslim Student Association, told the crowd.

“And that’s not the future we want for the Canada we live in.”

Vigils had been planned at both Ryerson University and U of T but organizers combined their events. Students and faculty from both institutions were joined by Toronto Mayor John Tory, federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau, Iqra Khalid, MP for Mississauga - Erin Mills, Omar Alghabra, MP for Mississauga Centre, and members of the community.

Speaking at the foot of University College, Sandy Welsh, U of T’s vice-provost, students, read a statement by U of T president Meric Gertler on his behalf:

“The University of Toronto community has reacted with shock and sorrow at news of the appalling shooting at a mosque in Québec City. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families and friends of those killed or injured. On behalf of the entire University of Toronto community, let me also offer our support to the Muslim communities in Québec, across Canada, and here at home in Toronto.

“Our flags will fly at half-mast for a two-day mourning period beginning tomorrow to coincide with the vigils being planned across the University.

“As I have said before, outstanding scholarship, teaching, and learning can thrive only in an environment that embraces the broadest range of people and encourages the free expression of their perspectives. As we condemn the tragic and reprehensible attack in Québec City and mourn its victims, let us recommit to promoting inclusion, respect, and civility in our University community and beyond.”

Mayor Tory used the opportunity to reassure Muslims that they are welcome and safe in Canada.

“We in this country and this city - the most diverse city in the world – don’t accept for a minute – won’t accept, don’t accept – the notion that we divide people, that we in any way marginalize people on the basis of where they came from, or who they are, or the language they speak, or their faith,” he said.

U of T students of all backgrounds came to the vigil to show solidarity with victims and condemn Islamophobia.

“This stands for a larger message: we’re going to unite and condemn such acts of violence, “said Nida Islam, a third-year Peace, Conflict and Justice student.

She and a friend held candle sticks surrounded by cardboard on which were written “unity” and “peace” in marker.

Claire Woodside said she was devastated by the news of the attack on the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec.

“We want to show support for the families (of the victims) because it’s horrific what they went through,” said the fourth-year commerce student.

Hashim told the crowd that the Multi-Faith Centre would be holding a healing circle on Tuesday at 3 p.m. A Muslim chaplain is also available for counselling, she said.