Couple apologizes after video surfaced of Surrey Aspen Park racism

SURREY (NEWS 1130) — A couple accused of shouting racist comments at a group of South Asian seniors and children in Surrey’s Aspen Park is now offering an apology.

The offensive language was captured on video Wednesday at the park in the Newton neighbourhood.

“We’re in Canada, speak English. I don’t understand what you’re saying. You wanna say sh-to my face, speak English,” someone could be heard saying in the video, which was shared to social media.

At another point, the group is told to “go back to India.”

Watch:

Sahiba Sangha, whose grandmother was in the park Wednesday, says in addition to the hateful comments, garbage was thrown at the group.

“What are these women going to do? They are old women. They aren’t going to be able to do anything,” she said, adding the incident left her grandmother terrified.

Sangha is questioning how the RCMP handled the incident and has refused to meet with the couple.

“First, they were completely denying saying any racist slurs, they were denying that they ever threw garbage. Then over the hours, they said they were sorry about it.”

She says she spoke with the RCMP Monday afternoon, and heard that the couple offered their apologies through the Mounties.

“They said they’re sorry about it, but it’s pretty evident in the video was racist. And whatever they were saying was verbal harassment,” Sangha said, calling for the couple to be banned from the park.

The Surrey RCMP says it is still trying to figure out what happened, as the members of the group did not call police.

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RCMP did receive a complaint from a third party on Wednesday, and a member responded to the incident.

Surrey RCMP Sgt. Elenore Sturko says there could be a possibility of charges, but so far there is no evidence anyone was hit with the garbage.

She urges people to contact police right away, and that the force does have Punjabi-speaking members if language is a barrier.

Community outrage

It comes as many prepare to gather Tuesday night in the park, to show their support for the South Asian community.

Dupinder Kaur Singh is among those speaking out against the incident, and is organizing the “Rally Against Anti-Asian Racism.”

The community activist and Surrey resident says it’s important to show that the vulnerable do have people sticking up for them.

“This will not be tolerated in our communities,” Singh said.

“The reason and need for this particular sort of rally was that the vulnerable were affected…and for them not to have anyone to stand up for them at the time was very much so difficult,” she said.

The rally will be held at 7 p.m.

With files from Bethlehem Mariam and Charlie Carey.