Mayor Crombie lights candles with French Consul General Marc Trouyet, along with Members of Council and the community, during a vigil service to commemorate the innocent lives lost following the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, Baghdad, and Beirut. The vigil was held at the City of Mississauga’s Celebration Square.
For Immediate Release | Check Against Delivery
November 15th, 2015
Mayor Crombie Remarks during Vigil Service
The following are remarks by Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie delivered during a vigil service to commemorate the innocent lives lost following the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, Baghdad, and Beirut. The vigil was held at the City of Mississauga’s Celebration Square.
“It is with heavy hearts that we come together today to mourn the senseless loss of life in Paris, Baghdad, Beirut and in far too many other places around the world.
“Mississauga stands shoulder to shoulder with these communities, and we mourn with the families of those who lost loved ones to these unthinkable acts of violence.
“Today, we unequivocally condemn this terrorism and say collectively that we will respond.
“These events have shaken us, but they will not break us.
“The heinous acts of terror that have been perpetrated against our fellow human beings in these countries are beyond comprehension because those who committed these vile crimes – who so thoughtlessly and cavalierly took the lives of so many innocent people – are not human.
“They have lost their humanity. Their actions are pure evil.
“No human being with a soul and a conscience could have done what these individuals did.
“To try to understand their motives is futile because their motives are pure and unmitigated evil.
“These criminals are not motivated by any recognizable religion, but by a perverse view of the world.
“This is not religion. This is hate. We must recognize this in order to retain our own humanity.
“Should we give in to those who seek to divide us or succumb to our deepest fears, we will lose all that we hold deal.
“We will become less than human.
“It is imperative that we stand together – Muslim, Christian, Jew, Hindu, Sikh, and every other faith, and even those with no faith – to send an unequivocal message that the scourge that is terrorism will not shake us, but will strengthen our resolve.
“We will not cower or hide. We will live our lives and always strive toward peace.
“In the immortal words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
“Our enemy wishes to divide us and have us turn on each other.
“They wish us to be afraid and to wipe out our way of life.
“If we give into our fears, we will give them what they want.
“We are here today to show solidarity with the people of Paris, Baghdad, Beirut, and so many other countries around the globe where vile acts of terror have been committed.
“May we never lose sight of the French creado: Liberté, égalité, fraternité.
“Liberty. Egality. Fraternity. Our way of life.”
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