More than 500 in Mississauga pray for victims of Christchurch mosque shootings

More than 500 people gathered in Mississauga, Ont. on Saturday to pray for the victims of the deadly shooting rampage on Friday at two mosques in Christchurch.

Speakers urged the crowdat Celebration Square, 300 City Centre Dr., to stand in solidarity with the 50 people who died and 50 others who were injured in New Zealand during prayers. Thirty-sixsurvivorsremain in hospital in Christchurch. Eleven arein critical condition.

The speakers, representingvarious faiths and all three levels of government, told the vigilit is important to fight all forms of hatred and to shut down extremism.

RabiaKhedr, executive director of the Muslim Council of Peel, said the community must remainstrong.

"We stand together against all forms of hate and oppression and we will never let it poison our community, our society, here in Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon," Khedr said. "It is a difficult time. But we will be resilient."

Three community organizations that represent Canadian MuslimsDawaNet, the Muslim Council of Peel and TorontoMuslims.comorganized the event.

'We are with you'

MississaugaCoun. Ron Starr, speaking on behalf of Mayor Bonnie Crombie, who could not attend,said Friday was a "dark and difficult day" for Muslim communities acrossthe world.

"We mourn the loss of [50]innocent people," he said. We are all deeply saddened with the acts of hatred and pure evil, such as these, that continue to happen around the world, and we have todo something about that.

"Our city will always stand up for what is right. Here is Mississauga, we embrace our diversity."

Starr said the city prays for those who diedand those who will sufferfor the rest of their lives.

"Acts like this only strengthen our resolve and bring us closer together. We are sending that message to New Zealand that we are with you."

'Please feel free to go and worship'

Urz Heer, speaking on behalf ofBrampton Mayor Patrick Brown, said the mayor wanted to let members of the Muslimcommunity know that they shouldnot to be afraid to attendprayers.

"This is what the haters want. They want us to be afraid. Please feel free to go and worship. The mayor has taken every precaution to ensure we are safe here," she said.

In a statement on Friday,Khedr said the organization wasin shock over the attack. "The rise of right wing extremism is vividly real even more today," she said.

"We are calling on law enforcement to heighten patrols at places of worship and in particular at mosques and Islamic centres. We appeal for calm in the wake of fear."

'We have a lot of work to do'

Khedrsaid the violence is a reminder toCanadian-Muslims of the attack inQuebec City on Jan. 29, 2017, in which six men were killed and six others injured at the Islamic Cultural Centre mosque.Alexandre Bissonnette, 29, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the killings.

After the vigil, she said she could not believe it when she first heard the news about Christchurch."I was in shock. I was like, 'Oh no, not again.' Okay, we have a lot of work to do and the work continues," she said.

"It's just a stark reminder that hate just breeds more hate. We have to denounce hate in all its forms. We need to stand firm and united against it."

Const. Taryn Hill, spokesperson for Peel Regional Police, said seven officers were at the vigil in Mississauga to provide security.

Initially, police in New Zealand said 49 people were shot to death. On Saturday, however, police said the death toll had climbed to 50.Brenton Harrison Tarrant, 28, an Australian man, is the main suspect in the killings.