New Zealanders to hold vigil in Vancouver to honour mosque victims
Posted March 21, 2019 7:33 am.
Last Updated March 21, 2019 12:13 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – New Zealanders here in Metro Vancouver will gather Thursday night to honour the victims of the massacre that left 50 dead in Christchurch nearly a week ago.
It comes as a massive vigil is set to be held in that city on Friday afternoon, not far from where the horrendous crime left 50 people dead and many more injured.
“As we all grapple with our emotions and shock and in the realization of what recently happened, we are organising a get-together where we can share, console, talk, hug and feel supported and be with our fellow New Zealanders and friends,” say organizers.
NEWS 1130’s own Adam Cooper, himself a New Zealander, says being half a world away has made grieving easier in some ways but it will be comforting to join together as a community.
“We had things to keep our minds off of it, we had things to do,” he says of fellow ex-patriots living abroad. “Whereas everyone back in New Zealand it was the only thing happening; every workplace, every school knew exactly what was happening and it was a really emotional time.”
Organizers are planning to illuminate Sunset Beach in Downtown Vancouver with glow sticks and flashlights while singing New Zealand songs.
They’re reminding people that candles are not allowed on the beach.
Emotional Christchurch Vigil
Friday marks a week since the massacre and will likely see thousands gather at Hagley Park, just across the road from the mosque where most people were killed.
“That’s just by chance,” explains Cooper. “It’s where the biggest field is in Christchurch where they have a lot of these things.”
“Just having the Muslim community and Muslim prayers being read out in front of thousands of people and across the country, across the world, is another real statement saying people are accepting of these religions,” he adds.
