Thousands in Auckland mourn victims
The dead have no voice. Others must speak for them.
A teenage boy who softly told the world it would’ve been better if he’d died instead of his brother and father, when all three were shot while worshipping at Masjid Al Noor mosque in Christchurch eight days ago.
A Prime Minister who resolutely told the world what the Muslim community and the country most called home had lost when a gunman killed 50 men, women and children, and injured almost as many again, at two Christchurch mosques in one of the worst terrorist attacks in modern history.
Strangers who didn’t know those who died, but mourned them — online, at home, at school and work and, for so many, at vigils from the far north to the deep south.
Yesterday evening at the Auckland Domain, about 4000 people acknowledged and mourned the lives lost, and called for change.
AUT student Vaivasa Ualesi was among those who joined young and old at the Jummah Remembrance: Vigil for lives taken in Christchurch.
She wanted to “stand with our community, especially when it comes to religion”. Her voice would be a kind one, in the hope others would follow.
“It shouldn’t have happened . . . but I’ll be kind, I’ll be accepting. I’ll treat others the way I want to be treated.”
Official speakers at the vigil, jointly organised by Migrants Against Racism and Xenophobia, Racial Equity Aotearoa, Shakti NZ, Asians Supporting Tino Rangatiratanga and Auckland Peace Action, strongly challenged the rallying cry that last week’s atrocity was “not us”.
Sharon Hawke, of Nga¯ti Wha¯tua Orakei, said hatred existed in New Zealand.
“White hatred is its foundation.” Israa Falah, of the Auckland Muslim community, said the massacre was the result of the normalisation of xenophobia.
Auckland Grammar student Mahmoud Shady said the aim of incidents such as that in Christchurch was to silence people. “They don’t want us to light up the dark.”
More vigils are planned, including The Christchurch March For Love at North Hagley Park from 10am tomorrow and a candlelit vigil there from 5pm.