Politics

Scheer condemns woman filmed yelling racial slurs, spitting on man in Toronto

The racial slurs and intolerant comments made by an ostensible supporter of the federal Conservatives have no place in the country, the party's leader said.

Woman has since been charged with 1 count of assault, 3 counts of assaulting a police officer

Scheer condemned the racist comments captured in cellphone video of a woman who was arrested after spitting on and shouting at a man outside Toronto City Hall on Monday afternoon. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)

The racial slurs and intolerant comments made by an ostensible supporter of the federal Conservatives have no place in the country, the party's leader said.

Andrew Scheer condemned the comments captured in cellphone video of the woman, who was arrested after spitting on and shouting at a man outside Toronto City Hall on Monday afternoon.

In the clip, posted to the website Reddit, the woman is heard yelling at the man while she holds a sign expressing support for Scheer in the upcoming federal election.

Scheer took to Twitter to distance himself from the woman after the video circulated online.

"I don't know who this woman is, but there is no place in our party or our country for her hateful language," he wrote. "I condemn her behaviour and racist comments."

The video shows the woman standing in the public square outside city hall while hold a sign that says "vote Andrew Scheer." She is heard using profane language and shouting that Canada is "a place of men" and not "savages."

"I can't believe you're real," the man shooting the video is heard saying before the woman is seen rushing up and spitting on him and the camera.

"Go home," she screams. "You don't belong here."

Charged with assault

Toronto Police Const. Caroline de Kloet said police were called to the scene shortly after the incident on Monday, though she did not say who made the report.

A woman was arrested and charged with one count of assault for spitting on the man, de Kloet said, adding that the woman remained confrontational after being taken into police custody.

De Kloet alleged the woman assaulted three police officers after her initial arrest and is now facing three additional counts of assaulting a peace officer.

Talya Davidson, 28, appeared in a Toronto court Tuesday. CBC News attended the hearing but a publication ban is in place on the proceedings.

with files from CBC News

Add some “good” to your morning and evening.

Your weekly guide to what you need to know about federal politics and the minority Liberal government. Get the latest news and sharp analysis delivered to your inbox every Sunday morning.

...

The next issue of Minority Report will soon be in your inbox.

Discover all CBC newsletters in the Subscription Centre.opens new window

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Google Terms of Service apply.