How you can remember and honour the Afzaal family in London, Ont.
On June 6, 2021 the Afzaal family was struck by a truck and killed while out for a walk in west London
On the first anniversary of the killing of four members of the Afzaal family in London, Ont., there are many events planned to honour the family, move through the healing process, and combat Islamophobia.
The deaths sparked an immediate outpouring of grief and love for the Muslim community after police said the driver targeted the family because of their Muslim faith.
Yumna Afzaal, 15, her mom and dad, Madiha Salman, 44, and Salman Afzaal, 46, and her grandmother, Talat Afzaal, 74, were killed June 6, 2021, after a truck jumped a curb while they were out for a Sunday walk.
The London Public Library has been highlighting contemporary Muslim authors for the last week and they're also giving away buttons that honour the Afzaals, who have been called Our London Family. A full list of events can be found on the city of London's website.
Events
Sunday, June 5
- Our London Family march - Organized by the Youth Coalition Combating Islamophobia (YCCI), the march will take place Sunday, starting at 1 p.m. at Oakridge Secondary School and will end at the London Muslim Mosque. Traffic along Oxford Street West will be impacted. There will be lane reductions starting at about noon. There is no parking at the school.
Monday, June 6
- CBC is broadcasting London Morning with Rebecca Zandbergen from the London Muslim Mosque beginning at 6 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. You can listen on 93.5FM or on the CBC Listen app.
- There will be a prayer service from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Islamic Cemetery at 6100 White Oak Road.
- Students at schools in the Thames Valley District and London District Catholic school boards will be completing the walk the Afzaal family never got to finish. Students will complete walks throughout the day.
- The city of London is dedicating the Our London Family Community Garden at 1 p.m. in Maple Grove Park, at 1260 Coronation Drive in London. Madiha Salman loved to garden, friends have said.
- The Our London Family Art Gallery at the London Muslim Mosque opens at 4 p.m. and the public is invited.
- A vigil planned by the YCCI will be held at the memorial plaza that has been built permanently at Hyde Park and South Carriage Roads, where the family was struck and killed. That event begins at 6:30 p.m. and includes the unveiling of a mural made to honour the family. South Carriage Road at Hyde Park Road will be closed as of 8 a.m. and access will be limited to local residents only on Prince of Wales at Gainsborough Road as of 3:00 p.m. As well, there will be road closures in both directions on Hyde Park Road between Gainsborough Road and Sarnia Road beginning at 4:00 p.m.
- Our London Family evening prayer will happen at the North London Islamic Centre at 10:30 p.m. after Ishaa prayer.
June 7 and 8
The Muslim Resource Centre for Social Integration, the Islamic Social Services Association and the King's University College school of social work are hosting workshops. Both workshops require registration, the links for which can be found on the city of London's event page.