Death threats and a swastika spray-painted on signs along the Nagar Kirtan route in Winnipeg

Winnipeg, Manitoba — 2026-09-05

Ahead of Winnipeg's annual Nagar Kirtan, the Sikh procession celebrating the Guru Granth Sahib, several signs along the downtown route were spray-painted with hateful messages; a Winnipeg Transit sign on Broadway advising of road closures for the event was defaced with a swastika and a death threat against Indians. Winnipeg police confirmed several signs were tagged and the Hate Crimes Unit is investigating the graffiti as a hate crime; police increased their presence at the procession on 6 September. Manitoba's premier condemned it as racism against Sikhs and Punjabi people.

Violence type

Hate-Motivated Violence

Secondary type

Threats & Harassment

Motive

Bias/Hate (alleged)

Category

Hate and identity-based incidents

Targeted identities

Sikh; South Asian (Indian)

Conduct

Property damage and vandalism

Targeted community

Religion — Sikh; Indian / South Asian

Source type

News reporting

Perpetrator

Unknown individual(s)

Target

Sikh community (Nagar Kirtan procession)

Killed

0

Injured

0

Arrested

0

Themes

None

Source

Winnipeg Sun

Last reviewed

2026-10-14 · 1 correction