Over the past few months, my social media feeds have been flooded with racist content targeting South Asian and Sikh immigrants in Canada. These attacks go beyond just stereotypes and slurs, with conspiracy theories and calls to “go back to your country” becoming disturbingly common. This online hate mirrors real-life incidents, such as a recent case in Waterloo where a man faced a racist tirade accusing him and other Indians of “taking over.”
This surge in hate speech and racist behavior highlights a troubling trend. According to the Global Project Against Hate and Racism, online slurs against South Asians have risen by over 150% since January 2023, while Stats Canada reports that hate crimes against South Asians have increased by 143% between 2019 and 2022. The Sikh community, in particular, is being targeted for their faith, while others are simply harassed for existing in public spaces.
Rather than dismissing these incidents as isolated cases of extremism, it’s becoming clear that Canada’s multicultural image is faltering. The myth of inclusivity is cracking, revealing that many immigrants are only tolerated as long as they blend in. From the early days of South Asian immigration, where Sikhs cut their hair and adopted Western names to avoid discrimination, to today’s more overt racist rhetoric, the struggle to be accepted persists.
In the past, South Asians were accused of stealing jobs, and today, social media platforms have emboldened far-right groups to spread the same message—claiming that South Asians are taking over “their” country. This narrative has come full circle in 2024, with an alarming rise in racism both online and in real life, posing the risk of further violence if left unchecked.
While government leaders often affirm their commitment to diversity and inclusion, their words are rarely matched by meaningful action. It’s no longer enough to offer empty platitudes. Canada must go beyond lip service and enact real structural changes to protect its diverse citizens. As Canadians, we can’t continue pretending that racism isn’t a part of our history and present. It’s time to confront the uncomfortable truth: this has always been part of Canada’s story.