Councillors with the City of Mount Pearl are sending a letter of condolence to New Zealand in the wake of terrorist attacks which left 50 people dead.
The 28-year-old man charged with the killings has been described as racially-motivated.
The City of Mount Pearl publicly condemned the attack during its March 19 council meeting.
“We all need to take a stand against this intolerance that seems to be rearing it’s ugly head across the globe,” said Deputy Mayor Jim Locke. “I want to acknowledge that and send out our love and condolences to all the members, all the families, all the relatives, all the neighbours.”
Locke proposed the idea of sending a letter to Christchurch, New Zealand as a show of support.
“We have to own it; we can’t just talk about it,” said Mayor Dave Aker, referring to the rise of racism in western democracies.
Councillor Andrea Power was overcome with emotion as she described a card making event she attended at the St. John’s Farmer’s Market on Monday, March 18.
“I am convinced, when I see so many people come together at an event like that, that there is more love in this world than hate,” she told council, through tears.
The cards created at the event were delivered to the Masjid-an-Noor, Newfoundland’s only mosque, on Logy Bay Road, as a show of solidarity.
The City signed a proclamation to recognize International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (March 21) during the same meeting.
