26 years after a lone gunman walked into College Polytechnique in Montreal, and shot 14 female students – Londoners marched in solidarity to honour those victims.
Carrefour des Femmes is a french women’s support centre, based out of London – and in honour of those victims, they organized the Marche Silencieuse or Silent Walk, as part if the National Day of Remembrance of Violence Against Women.
Some signs carried during the march
Emily Crakondji is the executive director of Carrefour des Femmes, and explains why Canadians should acknowledge the victims of one of our countries most infamous massacres.
“This is not just a London problem, not just a french problem – it’s a world problem, and that’s why this march is so important,” Crakondji said.
“We need to acknowledge this, we can’t just stay silent – we must acknowledge that this is a problem and we must talk find a feasible solution to address the problem.”
Crakondji says it’s up to London and communities like it to speak out and shine a light on an issue that’s been prevalent and a hot topic for a long time now.
Police Chief John Pare and Mayor Matt Brown were also among the walkers, and carried signs baring the names of vicitims of the Polytechnique.
Crakondji says it’s positive to see community leaders come out and voice their support, and feels that London sets a good example but adds that the words need to lead to action.
Police Chief John Pare, with constables holding signs honouring victims
“Enough is enough,” Crakondji stated, “One woman killed is too much. We don’t want anymore women dying, or being violated, and the violence needs to stop!”
Crakondji hopes the march will re-ignite that the community needs to work together in order to overcome controversial issues such as women’s abuse.