Ottawa vigil mourns victims of synagogue shooting
Gathered at Canadian Monument for Human Rights to remember those who died in Pittsburgh Saturday
Dozens of people gatheredat the Canadian Monument for Human Rights in Ottawa on Sundayfor a candlelight vigil to commemorate the 11 victims who died at thePittsburgh synagogue on Saturday.
People came out to attend the vigil,which was billed as both a way to commemoratethe victims and to push back againstanti-Semitismand xenophobia.
Cory Balsam, who attended the vigil, saidthe eventprovided aspace to start healing.
"The message was really one of unification against the rise of the extreme right around the world," he said. "[It] was a healing space where people came together to oppose what happened in Pittsburgh."
Officials in Pittsburgh released the names of the 11 victims on Sunday. They ranged in age from 54 to 97 years old.
Gunman Robert Bowers, 46, was arrested at the scene and has been charged with 30 state crimes and 29 federal ones. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has said that Bowers could face the death penalty.
Uniting against hatred
DaraLithwickspoke at the event in Ottawa, calling for unity against xenophobia and hatred.
"I invite us allto pledge together to listen, to be open to learning from the experiences of others, [and] to be as compassionate and caring as we can be."
"I think the message tonight was one of love and of reaching outside oneself," she said."It's amazing seeing everybody here in solidarity to do that."
Other vigils were held across Canada including in Montreal, Halifax and Vancouver.