Hundreds of citizens and elected officials from all levels of government gathered on Saturday in a park in Saint-Michel to pay tribute to Thomas Trudel, a 16-year-old who lost his life to gun violence last Sunday.
The emotion was palpable at François-Perrault Park, a few minutes of a short walk towards the memorial erected at the place where Thomas Trudel lost his life last Sunday, near the intersection of 20e avenue and rue Villeray. ” No to violence ! Could be read on several signs, brandished by parents and children alike.
A long moment of contemplation then followed where photos and drawings representing the young man had been placed alongside flowers and posters paying tribute to him or even urging the political elite to act to counter the related violence. to firearms. In front of this memorial, relatives, classmates and friends hugged each other as tears rolled down their cheeks.
Shortly before this march, the Minister of Heritage and Quebec lieutenant for the Trudeau government, Pablo Rodriguez, delivered a vibrant testimony, followed by the Minister of the Metropolis Chantal Rouleau and the leader of the Liberal Party of Quebec, Dominique Anglade, in particular . But beyond the words, “we want actions”, launched several parents during these speeches.
On this point, the new mayor of Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension, Laurence Lavigne Lalonde, urged Ottawa to tighten border controls to limit the entry of illegal firearms into the country. For its part, the City is committed to improving the funding of community groups and public infrastructure in Saint-Michel, such as its parks and libraries, added the elected from Projet Montréal, who was warmly applauded by the crowd.
Many parents met on site by Le Devoir also said they hoped that the increase in police surveillance observed in the neighborhood in the last few days will not be only temporary.
Further details will follow.