Man arrested after 'vile' racist and sexist rant on Metro Vancouver bus (video)

A man has been charged after he was captured on video Thursday berating women with racist and sexist taunts on a Metro Vancouver bus.

Scarlett MacPherson, 19, was riding the 95 B-line bus for the first time to Simon Fraser University. At around 2:20 p.m., she said a man boarded the bus and launched into a tirade at the women around him.

"There was a man screaming vile, racist and sexist comments at almost all the women on the bus," the psychology student said.

In the video, the man wears sunglasses, a blue sleeveless shirt and dirty grey shorts. He stands in the middle of the bus as he yells at the women around him, making lewd references to their bodies and racist remarks about people of Asian descent.

At one point, he looks over his sunglasses toward the camera. He tells MacPherson he doesn't like her eyes and calls her fat. He tells her to have sex with a woman sitting nearby.

The women on the bus largely tried to ignore the man, but it was clear some were afraid of him and several women got off the bus, MacPherson said.

"I wanted to get between him and the other women but I was also worried for my own safety," she said.

Eventually, the man got off the bus and MacPherson checked in with the other women to make sure they were OK. She says the bus driver saw what was happening but was "apathetic" about it and did nothing to defuse the situation.

Everyone I know, at some point in their life, has encountered loud nutbags like this on public transportation. As long as they don't get in your face or get physical, you simply don't engage with them - you ignore them until you or they get off the bus, and then put the unpleasantness behind you.

The guy was being an ass, but he wasn't "screaming" and wasn't threatening anyone physically. But Ms. MacPherson felt the need to record it, ask the women if they were ok(!) and report it to police(!) "He used hurtful worrrrrrrrds!!!"

Someone who can’t behave himself on public transport doesn’t belong there. He’s disturbing the peace of decent citizens.

A little female solidarity is appropriate in such a situation. Just like you might say something to a fellow commuter when the bus hits every pothole in creation or breaks down in a heatwave. Bad day on the bus.

I was curious about liquor stores in Canada, if they were government run. It varies from province to province.

British Columbia: Beer, wine and spirits are sold in provincially-owned and private liquor stores. Craft beer can be purchased at the brewery.

Alberta: Beer, wine and spirits are sold in privately-owned liquor stores.

Saskatchewan: Beer, wine and spirits are sold at provincially-owned liquor stores, rural franchises licensed by the government, and in three privately-owned stores. Beer, wine and spirits are also available at various “off sales” attached to bars and restaurants.

Manitoba: There is a mix of government-run and private wine and beer stores. Hotels are allowed to sell beer as licensed vendors, similar to “off sales.”

Quebec: Beer and wine are sold in grocery stores and corner stores. Wine, spirits and select beer are sold in government-run outlets.

Nova Scotia: Beer, wine and spirits are sold at provincially-owned liquor-store outlets. Some beer, wine and spirits are available at some private stores.

New Brunswick: Beer, wine and spirits are sold in provincially-owned liquor store outlets. A limited selection of wines is available at some grocery stores.

Prince Edward Island: Beer, wine and spirits are sold at provincially-owned liquor store outlets and a number of licensed agency stores.

Newfoundland and Labrador: Beer is available in various convenience stores. Liquor and beer are sold at provincially-owned liquor store outlets. Wine is only sold at provincially-owned liquor store outlets.

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