‘Go back to India’: Indian-origin Canadian shares racist encounter in Waterloo

In the video, Annamalai can be seen calmly telling the woman he’s Canadian. She refuses to believe him and responds saying, “You’re not Canadian. I’m being aggressive to you because too many Indians are in Canada, and I want you to go back.” Despite Annamalai repeating he is Canadian, she continued shouting, “Go back to India.”

At one point, the woman accuses him of not speaking English. Annamalai then speaks to her in French, one of Canada’s official languages, and asks if she could do the same. The woman claims she understands French and eventually walks away, cursing in English.

Watch the viral video:

The once welcoming community of Kitchener-Waterloo has seen a disturbing rise in hate, particularly against people of colour. Here’s a personal account of what I experienced today: A random woman gave me the finger & spewed hate while I was out for a walk at Erb/Avondale 🧵 1/n pic.twitter.com/TxvXeXW3Yd

— Ashwin Annamalai (@ignorantsapient) October 15, 2024

The video caught the attention of many, garnering over a million views. Waterloo MPP Catherine Fife responded to Annamalai, saying, “Waterloo region has highest rate of police-reported hate crimes in Canada,” and thanked Annamalai for sharing the experience.

“Waterloo region has highest rate of police-reported hate crimes in Canada.”

‘Time to stop pretending that racism and prejudice is not entrenched here,’ advocate says”

Thank you for sharing your experience Ashwin. #onpoli https://t.co/wxGSeGvwua

— MPP Catherine Fife (@CFifeKW) October 16, 2024

Some X users supported Annamalai in the comments, but when the video was posted by another account called ‘Canadian Patriot’ on X, many sided with the unnamed woman and urged him to return to India.

Canadian grandma confronts an Indian foreigner in Kitchener, Ontario. pic.twitter.com/PWzViKqcIh

— Canadian Patriot (@PPC4Liberty) October 16, 2024

One user wrote, “Doesn’t matter how many languages you speak. Still not Canadian. People have had enough.” Another commented, “Papers dont make a person.” A third user wrote, “She watched her country turn into a s••t hole over the course of 10 years. I understand her anger.”