MLA says daughter victim of racist attack

An Alberta cabinet minister says her daughter was attacked in downtown Calgary on Friday, the latest in a series of attacks on racialized Albertans and Canadians.

Community and Social Services Minister Rajan Sawhney said on Twitter Friday evening her 25-year-old daughter was attacked “in broad daylight” near her office on Stephen Avenue.

“She was grabbed, pushed, sworn at, and chased down the sidewalk,” said Sawhney, the UCP MLA for Calgary-north East.

“My daughter ran and stood next to two strangers. The attacker followed and kept screaming at her and pushed her again. No bystanders stepped in to help until it was over. My daughter wasn't physically hurt but is obviously shaken, and so am I.

“I am outraged, saddened and disgusted at the same time, as I have been with every single attack on racialized women that has occurred in recent months.”

Sawhney and her daughter spoke to police following the attack. There are cameras in the area and the minister believes police have a clear image of the man; police were unable to provide details of the incident Friday evening.

The attack follows a string of violent assaults on people of colour in Alberta and across Canada.

In Saskatoon early Friday, attackers stabbed, taunted and cut off the beard of a Muslim man in an alley behind his home. In St. Albert on Wednesday, a Muslim woman walking on a city pathway was knocked unconscious by a man wielding a knife. And in London, Ont. earlier this month, a driver intentionally ran down five members of a family while they crossed the street, killing four of them, because of their Islamic faith.

Calgary has also seen several attacks on racialized people considered to be hate-motivated over the past several months, including a woman who was beaten and had her hijab torn while walking in Prince's Island Park in March.

Calgarian Atthar Mahmood, president of the Muslims Against Terrorism group, said though many of the recent hate crimes are Islamophobic in nature, attacks have targeted people of colour broadly.

“Generally speaking, the Muslim community is under fear right now. They're uncomfortable travelling, going outside of their home, alone at least. They feel like they can be attacked at any moment,” Mahmood said. “But this is not just the Muslim community. These things are happening in churches, in synagogues.”

Mahmood said the courts must set an example by punishing perpetrators of these crimes to the full extent of the law.

All Canadians must acknowledge violence against people of colour has escalated beyond unacceptable levels, said Calgarian Mukarram Zaidi.

“I think it's time for this to be addressed nationally and provincially,” said Zaidi, with the Canadian Muslim Research Think Tank.

The attack on her daughter has strengthened her resolve to combat race- and gender-based violence in Alberta, Sawhney said.

Premier Jason Kenney condemned the attack on Twitter Friday.

“Hate crimes like this are a vile attack not only on innocent individuals, but on the cohesion and safety of our entire society.”