Black bus driver in Vancouver told ‘he should hang himself’
VANCOUVER — A Metro Vancouver bus driver has detailed “the worst night of his week” after a passenger suggested the driver should hang himself.
The incident was reported and is being investigated, Translink told the National Post. However, no additional comment or information was provided as transit police continue to investigate the matter.
The incident last week is now being investigated as an alleged hate-crime and happened when driver Ramgoat Buckaman, an employee of Coastal Mountain Company, was subjected to a series of disturbing statements on June 26, by a man who was a passenger on his bus in Vancouver, B.C.
In an account shared on Facebook, Buckaman wrote that a noose-like object was left on the bus by a passenger, and added that he didn’t want to create a scene and didn’t think it was something to be concerned about.
It’s alleged that the item was a broken bag strap but nothing has been confirmed.
A few moments later, a passenger after boarding the bus said that someone has left the driver a noose so he could hang himself.
“Within a few minutes, my fears were confirmed after (a) man later got on the bus and asked if I’m gonna hit, Broadway? Told him yes, he locked his stroller and sat down. Suddenly I heard him say “oh look, driver, someone left you a noose, perfect for hanging,” he wrote.
The driver said in his post that he was left in utter disbelief, but that didn’t stop the passenger from aggravating the situation.
“I instantly panicked as I didn’t know what the outcome of such (an) outburst was (going) to be.”
But the man didn’t stop there. He went on to say, “I think you should hang yourself with it at the end of your night,” the driver shared.
Buckaman said he was shocked by the statement and the utter silence of the other passengers. There was complete silence, he said, “and absolutely no one said anything, it’s like nothing happened.”
The spokesperson for Translink, Ben Murphy, said that racism is not tolerated in the transit system and should never be ignored, Vancouver Sun reported.
A report published in 2017 by Vancouver’s Transit Police shows an increase of 19 per cent in criminal warrant arrest leading to 837 arrests by the police. As per a Freedom of Information report on the Transit Police website, hate crimes based on ethnicity, religion, race and sexual orientation were recorded.
The National Post had reached out to Murphy, Transit Police and Buckaman for further comment.