On Sat., a man allegedly wielding bear spray and a hatchet attacked a group of worshippers at a mosque in Toronto, Canada.
Several congregants were able to subdue the attacker before any serious injuries were inflicted.
This incident is evidence of a recurring pattern of violence against Muslims in Canada and each attack chips away at the community's feeling of safety. The issue at hand requires a multi-layer approach, and everyone must step up to address it.
Hate crime, on the whole, is a growing problem in Canada and is not uniquely experienced by the Muslim community. Recent trends actually show a decrease in religious hate crimes and an increase in offenses towards racialized groups.
Canada prides itself on its multiculturalism yet fails to protect the very people that make up its diversity. This type of hate did not grow overnight, rather it's evidence of continued neglect by leaders and has become deeply embedded in our society.