The assailant accused the mother of being an immigrant.
Montreal police have arrested a 28-year-old woman following a racist attack on a mother of Colombian origin who was traveling to work on a Montreal bus.
"I'm angry that it's happening here in Canada", loose immediately Danna Alejandra Vargas, who was assaulted on January 28.
Like every morning, the 30-year-old single mother boarded a Société de transport de Montréal (STM) bus in the Saint-Michel district, en route to the factory where she works.
"I then felt that someone pushed me and said, 'Shut up you immigrant, you stink of shit'", she says, still in shock.
Shortly after, the same passenger pushed her again. This time, Danna Alejandra Vargas' head hit the cash card reader on the bus.
In the stampede, Ms Vargas suffered a scratch to her face.
"When I touched my face, I saw my hand which was all red, and that I did not have my glasses", says the one who arrived in the country 11 years ago.
Ms. Vargas, who is nearsighted and astigmatic, asked her assailant to hand over her glasses, to no avail.
Despite searches by other passengers, the mount was never found.
In addition to Ms. Vargas, two witnesses called 911 and the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) intervened quickly.
The SPVM confirms that the suspect was arrested for assault and released on a promise to appear.
Still fearful
Since this event, Ms. Vargas has been afraid to use public transport.
"We got groceries by taxi because I didn't want to [take the bus]," says the mother of a 12-year-old boy.
“The psychological sequelae remain for a very long time. There are people who have to change their route or their behavior because it has become an obsession,” says Fo Niemi, director general of the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations.
“Everyone is free to take the bus. I don't know why there are people who will do racist acts towards immigrants,” says Ms. Vargas.
“The safety of women should be a very serious concern for transport authorities and the police,” insists Mr. Niemi.
Since April 1, 2021, 110 discrimination cases based on race, color or ethnic origin have been opened at the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse du Québec. Only five of these events took place in public transport and places.