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Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 - 10:10:04
On December 6th, 1989, armed with a semi-automatic rifle, ammunition and knives, Marc Lepine walked through l’École Polytechnique in Montreal, separated the men from the women, and then proceeded to shoot and kill 14 women while making anti-woman statements.
December 6th, 2009 marked the 20th anniversary of what has come to be known as the Montreal Massacre. The students at Michipicoten High School observed this solemn occasion with the lighting of 14 candles, remembering:
Geneviève Bergeron, Hélene Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daiagneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Barbra Klucznick Widajewicz, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Rickard, Annie St-Arneault, and Annie Turcotte.
It is important to name these women, because they were not simply the victims of a violent man – they were individuals with lives and bright futures which were cut short because of a senseless act of violence. This is truly a tragedy, and it is the story for too many women in our society. In the twenty years since this tragedy, there have been at least 500 women and children in Ontario who have lost their lives as a result of violence. The number may actually be higher, as these women are those whose stories have made it into the news.
The issue of violence against women remains an issue today, and December 6th is a day for communities and individuals to think about the concrete actions that each of us can take to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women.
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