Release Date: June 16th, 2021A Response to the Attack in London, ON
Call to Move Toward Healing and Well-being for All
In response to the anti-Muslim act of hate and violence in London, ON, Mennonite Church Eastern Canada mourns with our Muslim neighbours and calls our community of faith to prayer. According to the London Police, this was a premeditated attack motivated by hate.
"This is about long-term relationship building and it won’t be fixed right away."
On June 6, a family of five was out for an evening walk in northwest London. A driver in a truck left the road and drove into the family as they were waiting to cross the street at a red light, targeted because of their Muslim faith. Four family members were killed and the youngest, aged nine, survived and remains in hospital.
“This has been a troubling week,” says Marv Friesen, pastor at Valleyview Mennonite Church in London, ON. There are two MCEC congregations in London: Agape Fellowship and Valleyview Mennonite Church. Many people from those congregations were among the thousands who attended the vigil at London Muslim Mosque held on Tuesday evening, June 8.
“Our Mennonite-Anabaptist values call us to stand with the oppressed and extend Christ’s peace in our lives and in the world around us,” says Leah Reesor-Keller, MCEC executive minister.
A multi-faith march took place in London on June 11 from scene of the collision to the mosque. “Community always gathers when tragedy happens but this is about long-term relationship building and it won’t be fixed right away,” says Marv. “Our government has the responsibility to pass laws to protect people, but these laws will not change people’s hearts and minds. We as the Church need to invite people to see the humanity in all of us.”
“We need to stand against Islamophobia, white supremacy and all other types of racism.”
There is a long history of Mennonite-Muslim relationships across MCEC, including interfaith dialogues and shared refugee sponsorships.
“We need to stand against Islamophobia, white supremacy and all other types of racism,” says Leah. “Not only do we need to pray, but we also must act in ways that can move in the direction of healing and well-being for all.”