Good NewsAfter Paris attacks, three Montreal friends drive home message of peace
Three Montreal roommates are hammering home the message of peace, tolerance and solidarity in the wake of the Paris attacks. It’s a message that’s quickly making its way around the world.
The three men stood in a subway station for an hour on Monday, holding hands. They each wore white shirts describing where they’re from: Matt from New York, Ammar from Egypt, and Thomas from Paris.
They also stood in front of signs that explained their relationships: roommates, best friends, and brothers.
A little further up, another sign read: They cannot separate us.
Matt Dejar told Buzzfeed Canada the reaction from commuters was nothing but positive.
“People were crying and hugging us. We were totally overwhelmed,” he said. “There was not a single bad thing said. Everybody was so supportive.”
Dejar says since Muslims have become a target by so many people, it was important to literally stand beside their roommate Ammar during this tense time.
“Yes he’s Muslim,” he told the site. “But we’re standing right next to him and he’s our best friend, so you have to accept that.”
The roommates met while working on a video project, in which they were challenged to take on a new experience every day, for 30 days. (Some examples: Do stand up comedy. Get waxed.)
The trio, along with their Turkish cameraman, even started their own YouTube channel called, appropriately, Generation Y Not.
