UPDATE: The vigil has been postponed to Saturday, Aug. 15th at 2 p.m. at Victoria Park.
Londoners are invited to Victoria Park this Sunday for a rally and vigil to remember the lives lost in the Beirut, Lebanon explosions.
Ali Chahbar, the outreach co-ordinator for the London Muslim Mosque, is one of the organizers of the event.
He tells 980 CFPL the rally is in support of the Lebanese, what they’ve been through, and what they’re currently going through right now.
“The horrific situation that they’re in (started) before last week. They’ve been going through economic and political corruption issues, as well as COVID-19, and now, this horrific blast,” Chahbar said.
“The rally is to rally around them, rally support, rally hope and prayers, and financially help them.”
A massive portion of Beirut was obliterated on Tuesday when a pair of explosions tore through the city.
At least 135 people were killed and more than 5,000 injured, though authorities expect both numbers to rise.
The source of at least one blast is believed to be 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that was being stored at the Port of Beirut.
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“This is about humanity. This is not about a culture or country,” said Chahbar.
The peaceful rally and vigil will be held on Sunday, Aug. 9 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Victoria Park.
According to Chahbar, it will begin with the Canadian and Lebanese national anthems, followed by some well wishes from community leaders and politicians, and then there will be a moment of silence to remember the victims.
Due to COVID-19, those attending are asked to wear a mask and comply with physical-distancing guidelines.
Other than the event on Sunday, Chahbar says the Lebanese community in London is working hard to help support those impacted in Beirut as much as possible.
“The (London Muslim Mosque’s) fundraising committee has allocated at least $15,000.”
More donations are expected to pour in after Friday’s prayers, said Chahbar.
“Other than the London Muslim Mosque, the Islamic Centre of Southwest Ontario, the Muslim Association of Canada, and the Lebanese Canadian Cultural Club of London, all have efforts in place right now for people to donate.”
The outreach co-ordinator says he hopes for a hundred to a thousand people to attend Sunday’s peaceful rally and vigil.
“Bring your prayers, bring your flags and bring your good energy,” Chahbar said.
“They’re all the way over there, (9,000 kilometres) away, but hopefully what we do will resonate with them.”
London is not the first Canadian city to mourn and honour the lives lost in Tuesday’s deadly Beirut explosion through a vigil.
Montreal’s Lebanese community gathered for a second vigil Thursday evening, and dozens of people attended a vigil at the Vancouver Art Gallery Wednesday night.
-With files from Global News
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