'I was overcome with guilt': Former London-West PC Candidate describes Islamophobia on campaign trail
A former provincial candidate for London-West has taken to social media to denounce Islamophobia he experienced on the campaign trail in the very neighbourhood where a Muslim family was run down leaving four dead and a child injured.
On Monday, Jeff Bennett, who was a candidate for the Progressive Conservatives in the riding back in 2014 explained in a social media post some of the things he says he experienced while campaigning.
“This terrorist may have been alone in that truck on that day, but he was not acting alone. He was raised in a racist city that pretends it isn’t,” wrote Bennett on a Facebook post.
Bennett explained in his post that he was following previous PC Candidate for the riding Ali Chahbar, a well-known and respected member of the community.
In an interview with CTV News Channel Bennett says he "was overcome with guilt" and knew that Chahbar was met with "very different challenges and welcomes at the door."
“’I can tell by looking at you that Jeff Bennett is a candidate I can support,’” was something Bennett says he heard all too often while door knocking in the neighbourhood.
“I would usually just thank them for their support and carry on. But it bothered me immensely. These people who’d never met me saw nothing special in me. They were happy only that my name was English and my skin was white,” wrote Bennett.
Bennett took to Facebook following the vehicle attack on the Afzaal family that left four members dead including a teenage girl, and nine-year-old boy injured in hospital.
A statement released to the media by a family spokesperson names the deceased as Salman Afzaal, his wife Madiha, their daughter Yumna and Salman Afzaal's mother.
The attack happened along Hyde Park Road near South Carriage Road, in London-West.
“I knew that Ali Chahbar’s former campaign office is only 1km up the road,” said Bennett.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other leaders have called the attack an act of terror.
Tuesday night thousands gathered to call for an end to hate in the city and immediate action on Islamophobia.
In his post Bennet explains that there were even members of his own campaign team that expressed relief over the fact that he had become the candidate.
“They, ‘Tried to volunteer a year earlier but the campaign office felt like the Middle East.’ I should have asked them to leave. I did not,” wrote Bennett.
Bennett expresses remorse and regret for what he sees as inaction within himself.
“I’ve come face to face with Anti Muslim attitudes in London Ontario and said ‘Thank you for your support.’ I’m so very sorry. I promise to do better.”
You can read the full statement from Bennett below:
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery caught on video
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
Pilot proposes to flight attendant girlfriend in front of passengers
A Polish pilot proposed to his flight attendant girlfriend during a flight from Warsaw to Krakow, and she said yes.