Woman assailed by 'Nazi' in racist verbal attack uses 1-year anniversary 'to make our community better'

A year ago Kaniz Fatima pulled over to ask for directions during a family vacation in Manitoba.

What happened next changed her world, but instead of being a victimshe decided to usethe experience to create positive change.

In an exchange captured on video by her husband, a man who described himself as a "Nazi" told Fatimato take her "head towel off" because it "supports Muslims."

He also told her to "go back to your own country" while holding up his middle finger throughout the exchange, which happened at Seven Sisters Dam near Pinawa, Man.

• Watch the racist verbal attack on KanizFatima in the video below:

Woman subjected to racist verbal attack in Manitoba

7 years ago

Duration 1:09

Family asking for directions, were verbally assaulted instead

She was shocked and scared, butFatima defended herself.

"You are being racist" she said in the video. "This is my hijab. Why should I take it off?"

The video went viral.

Fast forward a year and Fatima stands in her backyard in Rundle in northeast Calgary, BBQs sizzling and smoking, surrounded by more than 100 friends and neighbours in a colourful and diverse show of multiculturalism, in defiance of her attacker and that jarring experience.

She wanted tousethe anniversaryof what was a negativeevent tobring together her community in a positive celebration, while also marking Eidal-Adha, the second of two major Islamic holidays celebrated every year.

"After that incident we started thinking what could we do to let people know how we are, what we are," said Fatima, saying sheand her husband used it as an opportunity to build bridges and getto know more people in their city.

"We might have some negative experiences with racism but let's not stop there. Let's do something, all of us together, to make our country better, tomake our community better, to make our world better," said Fatima.

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"So we thought oklet everybody come: our neighbours, our colleagues, people from all walks of life, people from different ethnic groups, relatives, let them come and let us know each other so we can make a better Canada that brings harmony and peace," she said.

"That person did not represent Canada to me. This is Canada," Fatima said.

Fatima says she plans toholdanother event at the same time next year.

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