# Candlelit Vigils Across Borders: Filipino and LGBT+ Leaders Promote Cross-Community Support After Vancouver Attack
*Published: April 27, 2025*
In what officials are calling “the darkest day in Vancouver’s history,” a devastating vehicle attack at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival has claimed the lives of at least 11 people and injured dozens more, sending shockwaves through both Filipino and LGBTQ+ communities across North America.
## Communities Unite in Grief
As the sun set tonight, candlelight illuminated faces across Vancouver, Manila, and several major North American cities where community leaders organized impromptu vigils bringing together members of both the Filipino community and LGBTQ+ organizations. The solidarity comes after news that among the victims was Kira Salim, a dedicated educator and prominent LGBTQ+ activist remembered as “an epic drag king” and passionate human rights advocate.
“This tragedy has struck at the heart of two communities that know too well what it means to face violence,” said Maria Gonzales, organizer of the Vancouver memorial. “Tonight, we stand together not just in grief, but in resilience.”
## Quick Take: Understanding the Attack
Vancouver Police Interim Chief Steve Rai confirmed that the incident occurred at 8:14 pm Saturday when a vehicle plowed into festival attendees. While terrorism has been ruled out, authorities noted the suspect has “a significant history of interactions with police and health care professionals related to mental health”. The driver was initially apprehended by bystanders before police made the formal arrest.
Among those killed were multiple families, including Richard Le, his wife Linh Hoang, and their five-year-old daughter Katie, as well as three members of the Samper family who had traveled from Colombia, Glitza Daniela Samper, her mother Glitza Maria Caicedo, and father Daniel Samper.
## Communities Responding to Violence
The attack has particularly resonated within Vancouver’s Filipino community, which had gathered to celebrate Lapu Lapu Day, honoring the Filipino chieftain who led resistance against Spanish colonizers.
“We were celebrating our heritage and resilience when this happened,” noted Filipino-Canadian Association president Ramon Diaz. “Now we’re demonstrating that same resilience in how we respond.”
Meanwhile, LGBTQ+ leaders from New Westminster, where Salim worked as a teacher-counsellor, have mobilized support networks. New West Pride’s statement described Salim as “a wonderful exuberant contributor to our local community, volunteer, activist, local educator, mental health worker”.
The tragedy has prompted calls for enhanced security measures at community events. Police acknowledged that of Vancouver’s 3,200 events last year, only nine featured heavy barriers such as “big dump trucks,” with decisions on deployment based on “the nature of the event, the risk assessment of the event and where crowds will be”.
As communities continue to process this tragedy, the spontaneous cross-community vigils serve as powerful reminders that in times of darkness, solidarity provides the strongest light.
