November 17, 2015: I am saddened and sickened about the vicious attack that took place yesterday in the Flemingdon Park [1] section of my riding, Don Valley East. This woman was doing what thousands of parents in Don Valley East and elsewhere do everyday – she was picking up her child from school. She was wearing a hijab.
Does that make her less worthy of respect? It does not.
Does that make her a suspected terrorist? It does not.
As MP, my thoughts and prayers are with my constituent and her family in this time of need. I hope that the good people of Don Valley East will join me in standing up for our fellow citizens and speaking out against this unprovoked attack.
I condemn the violence in Paris, Beirut and earlier this year in Kenya. We as a community in Don Valley East need to show that we do not condone violence.
We need to lead by example that we welcome the diversity and pluralism within our community because that is what makes us strong, because that is our Canada.
Yasmin Ratansi,
MP – Don Valley East
Source: Press Release.
[1] CBC News Toronto: Muslim women, children urged to walk in pairs after attack in Flemingdon Park
Ismailimail 