Windsor community mourns New Zealand mosque shooting victims in vigil
A crowd of about 200 people gathered outside the Faculty of Law building at the University of Windsor to mourn the 50 people who died after two mosque shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The Muslim Law Association of Windsor organized the event as a way to remember the lives that were lost.
"It's definitely been jarring," said Mariam Jammal, president of the association.
"I think in any situation like this, it hits home for a lot of people, because these are just everyday people who are going about their lives, doing things that all of us regularly do," she said.
The gunman opened fire during Friday prayers. A 28-year-old Australian man has been arrested in connection with the shootings and has been charged with murder.
One shooting killed 42 people at one mosque, and seven died at a second. One person later died in hospital.
There were 50 people who were injured during the attacks.
At the vigil in Windsor, Imam Yousef Wahb said mass shootings are happening far too often.
"We are tired of vigils," he said.
"The problem is I don't believe myself that that was just a result of some Islamophobic incentives, because I don't think Islamophobia will actually produce all this evil."
According to Jammal, a positive thing that has come out of this tragedy is seeing the way people have come together.
"I think it's important to take this time as a community to process and to reflect and to stand united together," Jammal said.
"We've rallied around each other in a way that I think is just very beautiful."
