About 50 people — men, women and children — gathered at Place des Arts early this evening to pay tribute to Cpl. Nathan Cirillo and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent. The vigil was organized on Facebook. Many of the participants were new Canadians who wanted to show their sympathy for the families and friends of the victims.
They also wanted to spread the message that they are Canadians and that they do not in any way condone the acts of violence perpetrated against Canadian soldiers last week. One of the organizer’s Mayada Jabrj Sahb told Global News that many Arab Canadians are angry with the association being made with the Muslim religion and the killings of the two soldiers. “I don’t want anybody to connect my religion with any crime, ” she said. “I love Canada. I’m here to stay and I’m here to be an honest Canadian.”
The group arranged hundreds of candles on the pavement to form the word Canada and held up signs with messages of support and sympathy for the victims and their families.
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