Torontonians are asked to exercise respect for all residents

Mayor Mel Lastman and Councillor Sherene Shaw (Toronto’s Diversity Advocate) ask residents to exercise respect for all residents

            In response to the disasters in New York and Washington on Tuesday, September 11, the City of Toronto continues to express its deepest sympathy to the people of the United States. Our condolences go out to the innocent victims and their families.

            Like all of you, we are in shock and outraged by these vicious attacks and support the USA and the world community in its commitment to bring the perpetrators to justice.

            As plans are on the way to apprehend those responsible for the attack, we must exercise calm and maturity in maintaining respect to all our neighbours regardless of their ethnicity or faith and ensuring that we continue to respect the multicultural nature of our community.

            We are concerned with the rash of incidents against residents of Toronto who are of Arab and Muslim origin.

            Toronto is the most multicultural city in the world; its 2,5 million residents have built a model society that is envied by countries around the world. We must continue to show the world why Toronto’s diversity is our strength and how people of different races, cultures and faiths can live and work in harmony.

            We are, therefore appealing to all Toronto to exercise respect and not allow these tragic incidents to negatively affect our relations with our Arab and Muslim Canadian residents.