The city's Muslim community is coming together in grief and support for the Afzaal family at the Islamic Centre of Cambridge (ICC) Monday, June 14.
A rally denouncing all forms of hate will take place in the ICC's parking lot at 1550 Dunbar Rd. starting at 7 p.m.
Executive director of the ICC, Khalid Khokhar, said the entire community is invited to show their support at the event but said no cars will be allowed on site. Parking is available at the Cambridge Centre mall, a short walk away. Masks are required for anyone attending the event as is physical distancing of two metres or more.
The rally is to celebrate the lives of the Afzaal family, of London, who were killed while out for an evening walk on June 6 when police said they were intentionally struck by a pickup truck.
Salman Afzaal, 46, his 44-year-old wife Madiha Salman, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna Salman and her 74-year-old grandmother, Talat Afzaal died in the attack, leaving behind nine-year-old son Fayez who is still recovering in hospital.
A small stage will be set up in front of the entrance of the school.
Local dignitaries expected to make presentations include Cambridge MP Bryan May, Kitchener South-Hespeler MP Marwan Tabbara, Cambridge Mayor Kathryn McGarry, and Waterloo regional police chief Brian Larkin.
Also expected to be in attendance is Usman Lalva, president of the Muslim Society of Cambridge and Dr. Munir El Kassem, Imam of the Islamic Centre of South Western Ontario, among other local representatives of the Muslim faith community.
The event is also being broadcast live on the ICC's Facebook page and YouTube channel.
