Thread by @ldnontmayor

Since the evening of June 6th, I have struggled to find the right words to express, on behalf of our city, the magnitude of what happened to the Afzaal family, #OurLondonFamily. #ldnont

One year later, I remain at a loss on how to properly communicate the depths of our anger, our sadness, and terror.

Make no mistake, words do matter. They can provide comfort, encouragement, and hope.

Ultimately, however, words are nowhere near as important, nor as impactful, as action — especially one year later.

How do we ensure well meaning expressions are translated into meaningful action?  What do we do when the speeches end, and how do we as a community, as Londoners, support each other?

Over the last 12 months, we have witnessed countless examples from ordinary Londoners doing extraordinary things. Most recently on Sunday, as young people organized a powerful march against Islamophobia, demonstrating exceptional leadership in the process. #ldnont

Similarly, I applaud individuals and local workplaces, institutions, and places of worship for efforts they have undertaken over the last 365 days. I am also encouraged by decisive action taken by London City Council, and city staff.

Our work, both individually and as a community, remains unfinished.

On this anniversary of our city’s darkest hour, I challenge all Londoners not to become complacent. We cannot allow our progress to be measured only on this day, once every year. Rather, our progress must be measured every day, and moment-to-moment. #ldnont

It demands sacrifice, both individually and collectively. That sacrifice may come in the form of time; time spent learning and understanding more about each other.

It will absolutely require sacrificing comfort; the kind we afford ourselves when an ignorant remark is casually ignored at the dinner table, in a group text, or public setting.

Through these sacrifices, and so much more, we commit ourselves to the collective action required to build an even more loving, and more peaceful London.

Ours will become a community where all people may walk together with hearts as pure, and souls as peaceful as those of Salman Afzaal, Madiha Salman, Yumna Afzaal, Talat Afzaal, and Fayez Afzaal.

While we will always remember what happened on June 6th, we must never forget why it happened, and to whom it happened. 

Our London Family.