Is Stratford racist?
That's what one resident is asking after he experienced a couple of what he calls disturbing incidents in the past month.
Chris James, a WITT student who lives in Stratford, says he's been the subject of two separate verbal attacks in Stratford. He says he's speaking up because he's concerned other people may be experiencing the same.
No-one should be told to go home or go back to their country.
"While I can ignore it, it concerns me if someone who is new to our town or our country could be subjected to racist verbal abuse making them feel unwelcome."
The first occasion, says Chris, happened when he was walking in Stratford in the early evening.
"I walked past a couple of men, and one of them said something in an aggressive manner. I double-took at what I heard, but am sure the words spoken were 'go back to Syria'."
Chris was taken aback.
"I am not Syrian, not Arabic, not Muslim, I am Kiwi. More to the point though, no-one should be told to go home or go back to their country".
Walking past the group, Chris says he caught sight of himself in a shop window.
"It dawned on me that perhaps, with a beard, (which I have since shaved off) and with dark hair, maybe I looked 'foreign' so to speak, but again, that is not an excuse for someone saying those words to me."
A few days later says Chris, he was leaving the Stadium Bar and Bistro when he was the subject of a similar attack.
"Again, the words implied I was not only a foreigner, but a foreigner who was not welcome in Stratford."
Stratford is a great community to live in, which is only improved by having new people come here.
Chris says he hopes people from overseas who have chosen to make Stratford their home are not experiencing this type of verbal unfriendliness.
"Stratford is a great community to live in, which is only improved by having new people come here. Any form of racism is not ok and I hope most people in Stratford are as shocked as I am by the attitude of the people I encountered."
Have you experienced racism in Stratford? Do you think Stratford is welcoming to newcomers? Write to the editor and share your views.