Concerns of 'hateful racism' after Ontario man's video of woman ranting about people from India goes viral

WARNING: This story contains offensive language.

A Waterloo, Ont., man is speaking out after his video of a woman ranting about the South Asian community went viral. 

Ashwin Annamalai said he used his cellphone to record the woman after she gave him the middle finger, an action he said was unprovoked, while he was out for a walk on Tuesday evening.

Annamalai said that after he confronted the woman to ask what he had done to deserve the gesture, she went on about how Indian people are invading Canada. 

In the video, she's heard saying, "Indians are taking over Canada" and "go back to India."

Annamalai said these types of interactions have become common for him and his friends, with some escalating to physical violence, which is why he chose to record the conversation. 

"It's happened before and every time it happens, I'm shocked and taken aback at the state at which the community is deteriorating in terms of racism," said Annamalai.

"I decided I needed to document this because otherwise, it's just my word. It does not carry credible proof."

He also posted the video to his account on X, formerly known as Twitter, and it amassed over one million views in two days. 

Annamalai said that since the beginning of this year, incidents such as these have happened weekly. 

"I've lived here since 2018 and just until even the end of 2023, I've never experienced things of this magnitude before," he said.

"My friends, who are people of colour, also seem to regularly go through the same thing in Kitchener-Waterloo."

Politicians decry 'hateful' comments

The video has since gained the attention of local politicians, who have condemned the behaviour.

Annamalai pointed out that regional Councillors Colleen James and Rob Deutschmann, as well as Waterloo MPP Catherine Fife, Kitchener-Conestoga MP Tim Louis and Kitchener Centre MP Mike Morrice, have all reached out to him.

"Ashwin, I'm sorry that you and so many others in this community continue to face such hateful racism," James replied to Annamalai's post.

"This is terrible. There is no justification for this behaviour. Ashwin is a valued member of our Waterloo Region community and we are fortunate to have him here. Despite his experiences with overt racism, he continues to work selflessly to make our community a better place," Deutschmann posted to his X account.  

Annamalai filed a report after being contacted by the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS), which told CBC that additional support was provided to him by the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Unit. 

In 2023, Waterloo region had the highest rate of police-reported hate crimes across the country, according to Statistics Canada. 

WRPS Chief Mark Crowell told CBC News there were 34 hate crimes reported per 100,000 people locally last year.

According to the new data, issues such as a highly amplified political environment, polarization across social media, and anti-newcomer and anti-immigrant sentiment are impacting social discourse in communities and ultimately community actions, Crowell said.

He confirmed roughly 50 per cent of the reported crimes were directed toward the Black community, with 17 per cent against members of the South Asian community.

Political unrest between countries 

Baldev Mutta is vice-president of Punjabi Health Services Waterloo, a Cambridge clinic that provides free physical and mental health services to the region's South Asian community

After viewing the video posted on Annamalai's social media, Mutta said it reflects what he's been hearing from his clinic's clients. 

"There are always people who become worried that their jobs might be at stake or they think there are too many people of colour in Canada," said Mutta, who attributes the rise in hate to the economic downturn.

"It happened during the '70s, it happened during the 2000s. Any time there is downturn in Canada, some economic upheaval, people become panic stricken."

He added that his clients regularly face situations similar to what Annamalai experienced.

As tension continues to rise between Canada and India, Mutta said, there is serious worry for elevated levels of hate. 

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of supporting a campaign of violence against Canadians on Canadian soil. 

India's government denied claims Thursday that it was working with mobsters to target Sikh separatists in Canada. 

WATCH | Indian government's first briefing in wake of Canada's allegations about Indian envoys: 

Canada’s allegations against India ‘motivated by political concentrations': India spokesperson

2 months ago

Duration 2:40

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has dismissed Canada’s allegations that top Indian envoys were involved in a campaign of violence against pro-Khalistani activists. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made those accusations earlier this week, after the head of the RCMP laid out stunning allegations accusing agents of the Indian government of playing a role in ‘widespread violence’ in Canada, including homicides.

"If this continues, and there is fallout as a result of this whole thing and it escalates, that would be of grave concern," Mutta said. 

"The Indian community came because we felt very safe in Canada. We want to contribute to building Canada and live peacefully. Unfortunately, all these tensions create havoc for us."