Londoners are feeling shock, profound sadness and anger today as all of us try to come to terms with what happened in the Hyde Park area Sunday evening. Four innocent people killed in a senseless act of hate and mass murder and a child left orphaned and in critical condition. This unspeakable tragedy forces us to ask difficult questions. For our fellow citizens of Muslim heritage, this strikes at the very core of their sense of security and will have a lasting impact for years to come. 

Expressions of concern will naturally come in many forms. We must begin by thinking about the family and friends of the victims. I spoke with local Muslim community leaders and the family of the victims this morning. The pain they feel now is difficult to fathom. My understanding is that local organizations, including the London Muslim Mosque, will be making support services available. That is obviously a good and necessary thing but there is so much more that needs to be said and done. Indeed, all of us have a role to play. 

People will, quite understandably, have questions about what motivated the individual responsible. What could have pushed him to carry out such a brutal and cowardly act? This is a critical question and one that is central in determining what a response should look like. London Police are investigating the matter and answers will come. I commend them for proactively reaching out to Muslim community leaders and making clear that police understand the scale of what has happened and the impact it will have on Muslim Londoners. 

Until then, we can act by first recognizing that violence of this nature always takes place within a particular context. Islamophobia is a fact and its presence continues to shape the experience of Muslim citizens in Western democracies. We have seen it in Norway, the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and in Quebec City. There are other examples as well. The violence has taken different forms but the impact has always been the same. Now our city has felt the impact of this scourge. We are not immune and never have been. 

Responding effectively means responding - first and foremost - with compassion. Londoners, regardless of their faith background, must condemn what has happened. If you have Muslim friends or neighbours, call, ask how they are doing and listen. And if you do not, stand in solidarity anyway. Now more than ever, the Muslim community needs to know that they are loved. Families and their children will feel a profound sense of insecurity, fearing that they too could be targeted for who they are. Ignoring that is unacceptable and by voicing messages of support all of us can do our part. 

Governments, elected leaders, police, social agencies, faith leaders of all backgrounds and other leaders also have to continue to take a stand and come together. Policy responses have come and will continue to play a vital role. Yet, there are limits to policy as well. Islamophobia is driven by vicious stereotypes circulated in various mediums, but especially online. Understanding how to respond to that problem - and white supremacy that clearly stands as a major threat to our national security - is one of the foremost challenges of our time. On this, much more is needed. 

Our city changed today and we will never be quite the same. How we move forward is not up to any individual. Instead, we must embrace this as a collective responsibility grounded in the recognition that Canada and its multicultural foundation is worth fighting for.