Walk of Solidarity planned in Windsor for Afzaal family
A Walk of Solidarity is planned in Windsor to honour the second anniversary of a family struck and killed in London, Ont.
The walk will take place on Tuesday to honour the four members of the Afzaal family, who were struck and killed by a man in a truck, in what police called a hate-motivated attack because they were Muslim.
Talat Afzaal, 74, her son Salman Afzaal, 46, his wife Madiha Salman, 44, and their 15-year-old daughter Yumnah Salman died. The only survivor was a nine-year-old member of the family, who suffered injuries.
The walk honours the family and all other victims of hate crimes as participants stand up against hate, bigotry, and islamophobia.
Aliya Samsair, of Islamic Relief Canada and walk organizer, in Windsor, Ont. on Monday, June 5, 2023. (Gary Archibald/CTV News Windsor)
"It's instilling in the future generations that we shouldn't have this type of hate, we shouldn't have this type of discrimination and hopefully build on a society that doesn't have those elements and it's not welcome,” said ,Aliya Samsair, who works with Islamic Relief Canada and is an organizer of the event.
“And - if it is present, it doesn't feel like it has a platform to stand on."
Nathaniel Veltman faces four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. His trial is set to proceed on September 5, 2023 in a Windsor courthouse.
Amna Masoodi, organizer for the Walk of Solidarity, tells AM800’s Dan MacDonald Show the tragedy had a huge impact on her and her life.
"It definitely made me more aware of all the micro-aggressions that we face day-to-day. It made me realize that these can amount to something a lot bigger, and that when we're walking around we have to be, unfortunately, very vigilant of our surroundings."
The walk "In Honour of Our London Family" starts at the Bert Weeks Memorial Garden at 7 p.m. on June 6.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Downtown Vancouver stabbing suspect dead after being shot by police
A suspect is dead after being shot by police in a Vancouver convenience store after two people were injured in a stabbing Wednesday morning, according to authorities.
2 Canadians confirmed dead in Poland, as consular officials gather information
Two Canadians have died following an incident in Poland, CTV News has learned.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford calls Donald Trump 'funny guy' in Fox News interview
Ontario Premier Doug Ford called U.S. president-elect Donald Trump a 'funny guy' on Wednesday in an interview with Fox News for his comment that Canada should become the United States's 51st state.
Toddler fatally shot after his 7-year-old brother finds a gun in the family's truck
A two-year-old boy was fatally shot when his seven-year-old brother found a gun in the glovebox of the family's truck in Southern California, authorities said.
DEVELOPING As police search for suspect, disturbing video surfaces after U.S. health-care CEO gunned down in New York
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed Wednesday morning in what investigators suspect was a targeted shooting outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding an investor conference.
Millions in Cuba remain in dark after nationwide blackout
Cuba said it was generating only enough electricity to cover about 1/6th of peak demand late on Wednesday, hours after its national grid collapsed leaving millions without power.
'Utterly absurd': Freeland rebuffs Poilievre's offer of two hours to present fall economic statement
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has rebuffed Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's offer to give up two hours of scheduled opposition time next Monday to present the awaited fall economic statement as 'utterly absurd.'
Canada Post stores continue to operate during strike — but why?
As many postal workers continue to strike across the country, some Canadians have been puzzled by the fact some Canada Post offices and retail outlets remain open.
Mattel sued over 'Wicked' dolls with porn website link
Mattel was sued this week by a South Carolina mother for mistakenly putting a link to an adult film site on the packaging for its dolls tied to the movie 'Wicked.'