Sikh community targeted with death and hate messages amid holy procession
The Sikh community in Winnipeg faced hate-motivated vandalism, including death threats and swastikas, spray-painted along a route for their annual Nagar Kirtan procession. Local police are investigating the incident as a hate crime, while community leaders and government officials have condemned the act.
Why it matters
The rise in hate crimes against religious minorities highlights ongoing challenges regarding social cohesion and safety for immigrant communities in Canada.
Winnipeg’s Sikh community is disappointed after seeing death threats spray-painted on several signs along their procession route downtown ahead of the event on Sunday.
Nagar Kirtan is an annual event celebrating Sikhism’s holy scripture. It features a procession carrying the Guru Granth Sahib, the religion’s holy book, along with songs of faith.
An image of the graffiti circulating on social media shows a death threat against Indians and a swastika on a transit sign advising of road closures for the event. Winnipeg police confirmed several signs were tagged with hate messages.
“I don’t know why people hate, or something like that, because nowadays the racism has gone beyond the lines,” said Jagmeet Brar, an attendee.
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