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WATERLOO – A virtual vigil in the Waterloo region on Tuesday evening in honor of the Muslim family killed in a bombing in London was the target of a racist Zoom bomb.
One or more anonymous people resumed the video conference organized by the Kitchener Waterloo Coalition of Muslim Women, sending racist, Islamophobic and homophobic messages in the public chat.
“It was just reliving the trauma and the murder in London, not just our physical spaces but also in the virtual spaces,” said coalition executive director Fazia Mazhar.
“I am still in shock at what we witnessed,” said Kitchener-Center MPP Laura Mae Lindo.
The vigil was held in honor of the four people, all from the same family, killed in an anti-Muslim attack in London. Police said a 20-year-old man drove his truck into the family as they were out for a walk on Sunday evening.
A nine-year-old boy, the only survivor, remains in hospital.
The 20-year-old is charged with four counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
The Zoom Bomb was a disturbing interruption, as many members of the Waterloo community mourned.
An audio message also broadcast during the Zoom appeal vigil would be intended directly for the coalition and its female members who were organizing the event.
“They kept their cool, they went through everyone. They are suffering the most right now, but they were more concerned about everyone,” said Waterloo MP Bardish Chagger.
Mazhar says his name was specifically mentioned in some of the malicious posts.
“The feeling of entitlement that would cause you to violate a space of mourning and mourning,” she said.
The coalition calls for tougher action to fight Islamophobia and concrete legislation against hate speech.
“I can’t wait to see hate speech legislation online,” Chagger said.
“We have a concrete opportunity to do this,” said Lindo.
Mazhar says several officers in the Waterloo region were on the Zoom call when the offensive messages arrived and helped quickly kick out those who shared the hate of the call.
She also spoke with investigators on Wednesday morning, with Waterloo Regional Police confirming that an investigation was underway.
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