Remember January 29th, 2017
January 29, 2018 4:52 AM Subscribe
On January 29, 2017, around 7:52pm, a young white man entered a mosque in Quebec City in Canada and in the course of a few minutes, murdered Azzeddine Soufiane, Mamadou Tanou Barry, Khaled Belkacemi, Aboubaker Thabti, Ibrahima Barry and Abdelkrim Hassane. Five others were badly injured: Aymen Derbali, Said El-Amari, Mohamed Khabar, Nizar Ghlai and Said Akjour.
CBC's timeline of what happened that horrible day one day year ago.
Activist Syed Hussan on collective forgetting.
Today's episode of Canadaland talks about how much coverage this anniversary is not likely to receive and the media's role in covering it.
CBC's timeline of what happened that horrible day one day year ago.
Activist Syed Hussan on collective forgetting.
Today's episode of Canadaland talks about how much coverage this anniversary is not likely to receive and the media's role in covering it.
Not even on the CBC News front page; disgraceful.
posted by scruss at 5:36 AM on January 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by scruss at 5:36 AM on January 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
It's the first story on CBC Radio One, "The Current" - a profile of Aymen Derbali, paralysed in the shooting.
posted by jb at 5:45 AM on January 29, 2018
posted by jb at 5:45 AM on January 29, 2018
The top story on CBC.ca a moment ago was "Has #metoo & modern feminism gone too far?" #nojoke
posted by LMGM at 6:03 AM on January 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by LMGM at 6:03 AM on January 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
Thanks for posting this. Unsurprisingly but very disappointingly, there has been little to no discussion of "what are the members of the shooter's cultural group doing to prevent radicalization of their youth online". Because the shooter was a young white guy, and being the 'default', they have no cultural group?
posted by anthill at 6:13 AM on January 29, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by anthill at 6:13 AM on January 29, 2018 [14 favorites]
Let's not forget the absolutely stellar coverage by the Rebel. I recall a crowd funding attempt to find "the real murderer" but I can't find any evidence for it, so maybe I remembered wrong?
Seriously, any discussion about this is incomplete without bringing them up.
posted by jonnay at 6:27 AM on January 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
Seriously, any discussion about this is incomplete without bringing them up.
posted by jonnay at 6:27 AM on January 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
Mod note: Okay, I've gone ahead and added the year to the title; thanks folks.
posted by taz (staff) at 6:28 AM on January 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by taz (staff) at 6:28 AM on January 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
. . . . . .
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:41 AM on January 29, 2018
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:41 AM on January 29, 2018
appreciate the use of the memorial website as framing and their intentional naming of all of the victims with only a vague descriptor of the shooter, the polar opposite practice in most of our capitalism-driven news media
<3
posted by runt at 6:54 AM on January 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
<3
posted by runt at 6:54 AM on January 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
Today, Quebec's long gun registry comes into effect.
posted by bonehead at 7:08 AM on January 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by bonehead at 7:08 AM on January 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
Almost four thousand people (so far) have raised money to help Aymen Derbali, who was severely injured in the shooting as he protected others, get an accessible home so he can be reunited with his wife and three children. They're almost-- but not quite-- at their goal with only 12 days remaining.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 7:10 AM on January 29, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 7:10 AM on January 29, 2018 [15 favorites]
I can't believe this has already been a year. I will hold these people in my thoughts today.
So fucking pointless...
Unsurprisingly but very disappointingly, there has been little to no discussion of "what are the members of the shooter's cultural group doing to prevent radicalization of their youth online".
"Why isn't more being done to curb the increasing alt-right/racist/sexist/nazi presence online?" is what a ton of people are asking this year and last, pointing to incidents like this one (and sadly many others) as examples. People are quitting Twitter over it (and projecting messages to that effect on their headquarters), etc.
I mean you could argue that the members of the shooter's cultural group aren't doing enough (I probably would), but to say there has been little to no discussion of it seems off. Unless I'm missing something obvious?
posted by ODiV at 9:36 AM on January 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
So fucking pointless...
Unsurprisingly but very disappointingly, there has been little to no discussion of "what are the members of the shooter's cultural group doing to prevent radicalization of their youth online".
"Why isn't more being done to curb the increasing alt-right/racist/sexist/nazi presence online?" is what a ton of people are asking this year and last, pointing to incidents like this one (and sadly many others) as examples. People are quitting Twitter over it (and projecting messages to that effect on their headquarters), etc.
I mean you could argue that the members of the shooter's cultural group aren't doing enough (I probably would), but to say there has been little to no discussion of it seems off. Unless I'm missing something obvious?
posted by ODiV at 9:36 AM on January 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
I mean you could argue that the members of the shooter's cultural group aren't doing enough (I probably would), but to say there has been little to no discussion of it seems off. Unless I'm missing something obvious?
relative to the West's obsession with radicalization as it happens in predominantly Muslim countries, there might as well be no conversation about white supremacist radicalization in the US. I've heard more lived experiences about Americans joining terrorist cells in Afghanistan than I have about, say, white nationalists in my own state. or hell, even about the Neo-Confederacy types who are fighting monument removal
posted by runt at 9:40 AM on January 29, 2018 [10 favorites]
relative to the West's obsession with radicalization as it happens in predominantly Muslim countries, there might as well be no conversation about white supremacist radicalization in the US. I've heard more lived experiences about Americans joining terrorist cells in Afghanistan than I have about, say, white nationalists in my own state. or hell, even about the Neo-Confederacy types who are fighting monument removal
posted by runt at 9:40 AM on January 29, 2018 [10 favorites]
Someone very close to me converted to Islam several years ago, and it was something about the description of the mosque in the third link that finally brought everything home to me. I didn’t know until recently, but the person I know goes to a mosque a few times a week to pray. The congregation is mostly west African men, and from what I gather, the building looks a lot like the one in Quebec City. When the article was describing the mosque, I pictured the one they go to.
My first thought was that you never hear about west African Sufis getting shot up at random, as if I could rationalize it, as if part of the horror of this wasn’t that it was so random and unexpected. Imagine that: someone very close to me has gone in to pray, having found a deep and abiding faith that brings them joy and comfort; and someone walks in and kills them, right over there, next to a pillar under a fluorescent light in a building somewhere off a Main Street, near a Senegalese restaurant.
I’m ashamed that I didn’t give this enough thought until I realized how it affected me personally. For all that I was horrified by the violence, I never thought about a mosque being part of my life. It’s like when you hear about a bombing on the other side of the world; it’s sad to hear about death, but there can be a disconnect. I was horrified on the day of the attack, but then I occupied myself with being angry at racist comments about it online, and weak media coverage. That was what I could relate to. It didn’t truly hit home until I could picture it being a place where someone close to me could have been, rather than a place for the Other, even an Other that I cared about.
I’m sorry to have made this all about me, but I just realized how worried I am for people. What’s to prevent this from happening again somewhere else? I always knew that you needed to be sick and hyped up on right wing politics to do something like this, but now for the first time, I feel like I really don’t understand how someone could do this. The people who died a year ago were just there to pray.
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 9:43 AM on January 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
My first thought was that you never hear about west African Sufis getting shot up at random, as if I could rationalize it, as if part of the horror of this wasn’t that it was so random and unexpected. Imagine that: someone very close to me has gone in to pray, having found a deep and abiding faith that brings them joy and comfort; and someone walks in and kills them, right over there, next to a pillar under a fluorescent light in a building somewhere off a Main Street, near a Senegalese restaurant.
I’m ashamed that I didn’t give this enough thought until I realized how it affected me personally. For all that I was horrified by the violence, I never thought about a mosque being part of my life. It’s like when you hear about a bombing on the other side of the world; it’s sad to hear about death, but there can be a disconnect. I was horrified on the day of the attack, but then I occupied myself with being angry at racist comments about it online, and weak media coverage. That was what I could relate to. It didn’t truly hit home until I could picture it being a place where someone close to me could have been, rather than a place for the Other, even an Other that I cared about.
I’m sorry to have made this all about me, but I just realized how worried I am for people. What’s to prevent this from happening again somewhere else? I always knew that you needed to be sick and hyped up on right wing politics to do something like this, but now for the first time, I feel like I really don’t understand how someone could do this. The people who died a year ago were just there to pray.
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 9:43 AM on January 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
"what are the members of the shooter's cultural group doing to prevent radicalization of their youth online"
pretty sure that's riffing on the often heard phrase whenever there's a Muslim born in the country who is responsible for an attack - and it's perfectly reasonable to turn it around and expect the same of white communities - and of course the media is never ever ever going to do that (like the NYT who is too busy running 'try to understand their side' profiles of Nazis)
posted by kokaku at 9:44 AM on January 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
pretty sure that's riffing on the often heard phrase whenever there's a Muslim born in the country who is responsible for an attack - and it's perfectly reasonable to turn it around and expect the same of white communities - and of course the media is never ever ever going to do that (like the NYT who is too busy running 'try to understand their side' profiles of Nazis)
posted by kokaku at 9:44 AM on January 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
I've seen that shit too, runt, but maybe it's just who I'm talking to? Because the US President is a white supremacist, his friends and colleagues are white supremacists, and there is a disturbing radicalization happening in concert in your country and mine, and there seems to be very little disagreement among the people I'm talking to. The general increase in fascism apologia/racism/sexism online is undeniable as is the increase in domestic terrorism carried out by white supremacists. And everyone seems to be talking about it and in agreement that white people need to handle their shit.
kokaku: Oh, if it's just what the mainstream media is saying then yeah, fuck them. If the "little to no discussion" was meant in relation to them then I apologize anthill because I have no idea what they're saying and I have no incentive to find out, honestly because I can only handle so many profiles of "the white working class".
posted by ODiV at 9:52 AM on January 29, 2018
kokaku: Oh, if it's just what the mainstream media is saying then yeah, fuck them. If the "little to no discussion" was meant in relation to them then I apologize anthill because I have no idea what they're saying and I have no incentive to find out, honestly because I can only handle so many profiles of "the white working class".
posted by ODiV at 9:52 AM on January 29, 2018
Er, by everyone in agreement, not everyone everywhere, obviously, because then none of this would be a problem. Just the overwhelming sentiment amongst people I talk to here, other places online, and in person.
posted by ODiV at 9:57 AM on January 29, 2018
posted by ODiV at 9:57 AM on January 29, 2018
everyone seems to be talking about it and in agreement that white people need to handle their shit
I think this might be more due to your social circle than a reflection of society at large. there's slightly more chance that progressives who were already anti-racist are now willing to do the real work of anti-racism (policy advocacy, community dialogues, civil disobedience) but, by and large, if I'm going to a supermarket or the park I can expect the same weird bullshit that I've been getting my entire life as a PoC
this also seems to be something that's reflected by polling done on this issue - that's it's a bit more but it's still not a lot and it fits neatly in a very boring, non-revolutionary pattern of waxing and waning interest on the issue. the waning of interest on issues of racism during Obama's tenure is a really depressing reminder of just how much work we have left to do on this issue even on the ostensibly liberal side of the spectrum
posted by runt at 10:13 AM on January 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
I think this might be more due to your social circle than a reflection of society at large. there's slightly more chance that progressives who were already anti-racist are now willing to do the real work of anti-racism (policy advocacy, community dialogues, civil disobedience) but, by and large, if I'm going to a supermarket or the park I can expect the same weird bullshit that I've been getting my entire life as a PoC
this also seems to be something that's reflected by polling done on this issue - that's it's a bit more but it's still not a lot and it fits neatly in a very boring, non-revolutionary pattern of waxing and waning interest on the issue. the waning of interest on issues of racism during Obama's tenure is a really depressing reminder of just how much work we have left to do on this issue even on the ostensibly liberal side of the spectrum
posted by runt at 10:13 AM on January 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
Yeah, it was more a matter of not catching the mainstream media context the comment was meant in, I think. I'm not even talking about being willing to do the work, unfortunately, just people agreeing that it "should be done". There's way less walk than talk, which I'm guilty of as well.
Anyway, I'm going to go read the links here and last year's thread on this tragedy and remember these people.
posted by ODiV at 10:22 AM on January 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
Anyway, I'm going to go read the links here and last year's thread on this tragedy and remember these people.
posted by ODiV at 10:22 AM on January 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
.
posted by Canageek at 10:31 AM on January 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Canageek at 10:31 AM on January 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
Thanks for posting the Launchgood link, Fuzzy Monster. I tried to donate last week, but was too flu-impaired to deal with it. If there's anyone else in Vancouver who would like to stand with our Muslim neighbours in observing this sad anniversary, there's a gathering at 7 tonight at the Al Masjid Al Jamia mosque at 655 W. 8th Ave (near Heather). Thanks for posting this, Kitteh.
posted by Steller's Jay at 3:32 PM on January 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Steller's Jay at 3:32 PM on January 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
I just donated. One of those goals where it's so within reach and just a bit of your help can push it through. Thanks for the link!
posted by numaner at 5:40 PM on January 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by numaner at 5:40 PM on January 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
the NYT who is too busy running 'try to understand their side' profiles of Nazis
The consequences of that article were pretty delightful, though.
posted by Jacqueline at 5:56 PM on January 29, 2018
The consequences of that article were pretty delightful, though.
posted by Jacqueline at 5:56 PM on January 29, 2018
Thank you for posting this, Kitteh. I was listening to a CBC Radio interview with Ayman and his wife and it was excellent.
The host talked about how the shoes of the men who were killed are still at the mosque (because you remove your shoes before you go in). No one has taken them away and so they remain. It was a heartbreaking detail.
. . . . . .
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 10:44 PM on January 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
The host talked about how the shoes of the men who were killed are still at the mosque (because you remove your shoes before you go in). No one has taken them away and so they remain. It was a heartbreaking detail.
. . . . . .
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 10:44 PM on January 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
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posted by kokaku at 5:26 AM on January 29, 2018 [23 favorites]