NCCM: It's Time to Follow TVDSB's Example On Anti-Islamophobia in Education Three Years After Terror Attack That Took #OurLondonFamily

Three years ago, on June 6th, 2021, we lost four members of #OurLondonFamily to a planned act of Islamophobic terrorism, carried out by a white supremacist using his vehicle to take lives.

Those four members of the beloved Afzaals represented three generations of a well-known family in London, Ontario with a distinguished past and a bright future. The tragedy shocked Canada. We have never been the same.

Since then, with heavy hearts and minds, so many of us in the community and across the country have tried to bring light out of this darkness.

“We have tried to bring systemic changes to Ontario to address growing Islamophobia and racism,” said NCCM CEO Stephen Brown, “from street harassment laws, to better hate crime legislation, to more help for mosques to beef up security. We have had successes, but we keep on pushing.”

“Since 2021, our community has suffered an even higher rate of Islamophobic hate crimes, including incidents involving vehicles like at the Islamic Society of Markham and near the BC legislature in Victoria. This further illustrates the need for real change.”

At the centre of what we need is robust anti-Islamophobia strategies and education in our school boards across the country. The Thames Valley District School Board has taken the lead on adopting such strategies, setting a great example for other boards to follow.

We also need elected officials to better protect the civil liberties and rights of those who are expressing their hope for peace in Gaza and Palestine. We need an end to anti-Palestinian racism.

We need more than words, we are way past that. We need to see results.

Watch NCCM's Director of Education Aasiyah Khan speak at TVDSB's Dismantling Anti-Muslim Racism Strategy launch