Sadness, anger, rage and the search for officials tinted a vigil initially organized to pay tribute to the victims of the Beirut explosions on Tuesday, in downtown Montreal, Wednesday evening.
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“All must go [en référence aux politiciens en place au Liban] Was one of the slogans chanted in Arabic by the few hundred Montrealers of Lebanese origin, rather young, gathered Wednesday evening at Dorchester Square, at the intersection of Peel Street and René-Lévesque Boulevard.
From 7 p.m. and for more than two hours, members of the United Diaspora of Montreal, a political community, had arranged to meet all those who wished to pay tribute to their “brothers and sisters” who lost their lives in the explosions that occurred Tuesday noon at the port of Beirut.
Stephani Moukhaiber
Spokesperson for Diaspora United
After citing the names of several deceased people, keeping a minute of silence and lighting lanterns, the messages and speeches delivered to the megaphone quickly took on political tenor.
“This government must fall. The president must fall and religion must fall, enumerated with emotion and applause Helene Chahine in front of several members of the media. I think the people who are responsible should be brought to justice. It’s horrible what happened. “
Photo QMI Agency, Mario Beauregard
In particular, Montrealers lit candles in memory of the Lebanese victims.
“It’s not just a mistake, it’s negligence,” added Stephani Moukhaiber, 25, spokesperson for the community. We are here, and privileged. We must be there for our loved ones who are there and unite our voices. “
Hugs and sobs
The protesting aspect of the rally nevertheless testified to the deep sadness felt by the hundreds of people, most of whom wore masks.
People for whom the previous 24 hours had been most painful hugged as a comfort, others, inconsolable, downright burst into tears under the heaviness of the atmosphere that reigned in the park.
Photo QMI Agency, Mario Beauregard
This young woman could not hold back her tears.
“It hurts a lot,” said Rana Hallaby, 28, whose cousin worked in a hospital that was ravaged. I hope the Lebanese people will rise up. He has nothing more to lose. “
“We came to show solidarity. We were born in Lebanon. Beirut is the city where we grew up, in turn confided Toufic Srouji, 27, who revived with his wife Jana Fakhouri. All the memories we have are destroyed. We find it hard to accept that this happened. “