Edinburgh mum horrified as man tells her to 'go back to your own country'

Edinburgh Live

20-05-2025

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An Edinburgh mum has been left shaken after she claimed she was racially abused in Leith.
Rocio Martinez, originally from Mexico City but currently living in the capital with her young family, was returning home from a rehearsal when the incident took place close to her Abbeyhill home.
The 40-year-old mum-of-two looked on as a man allegedly acted extremely aggressively while on the phone in a residential area. She describes the male as being around 5'7 to 5'9, with short brown hair and a beard, as well as heavy eyebrows and wearing black jogging bottoms with a Hibs top.
Rocio, who is currently studying an Msc in Data Engineering in the capital, unfortunately caught the gaze and rage of the man who allegedly hurled a tirade of abuse in her direction. She was particularly upset when the man is claimed to have said 'go back to your own country.'
The incident took place on Saturday May 17 at around 6pm.
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'It started at the top of Waverley Place and Regent Place, at the steps, kind of next to the Artisan pub,' she said. 'I was walking down the steps to go home, and I heard someone on the phone being quite aggressive and loud to whoever they were talking to, they were swearing a lot.
'I looked back and saw it was a man, and I thought to myself, 'gosh this man is angry!' And then this street has a lot of children, including my own who were close by.
'At the time I just hoped it didn't escalate. But I guess he thought I was being nosey looking over, which was enough for him to shift his anger to me.
'He started by shouting 'what are you looking at?' But I said nothing, although I did give him another look of: jeeeez!!
'I kept walking, he then started to follow me and started yelling 'f**k you! F*****g whatever whatever!! C**t!, mind your own f*****g business.' At first, I told him calmly but firmly to stop.
'I said do not talk to me like that. But he kept going and he kept walking next to me shouting all these horrible things, calling me a b***h.
'At one point he started getting too close into my personal space and making chesty movements, almost like a gorilla. I worried he might punch me.
'I don't remember when, but I did say f**k you back but he kept going on and on, walking beside me as I walked back home. Then he told me to 'go back to your country.''
It was at this stage Rocio threatened to call the police and became embroiled in a verbal back and forth with the man. Although she never followed through with her threat to involve officers, she believes this deterred the man from escalating the situation.
However she claimed several of her neighbours checked in on her after the incident took place.
'I did try to defend myself by insulting him back but he was so vicious,' she added. 'It caught me completely by surprise and led to me speaking back in a way I do not normally.
'I was really shocked that this man would talk and behave like that to a stranger. He was acting like a child, or even an animal.
'Even his physical movements were just so aggressive, he was full of anger. I felt shocked, angry, scared and then hurt and sad that someone would tell me to go back to my country just because I look different.
'I have called Scotland my home for the last 11 years and it really hurts to be told to go back to my country. It was all really upsetting and hurtful.
'He thought he could get away with talking to me like that cause I am a brown woman. He would have probably attacked anyone, but he would have also thought about it twice if I were a muscular white man.
'I am not perfect, I mean, who is? But I do try to be nice to other people and respect my community. I'm trying to be a responsible citizen, neighbour, and mum.
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'I do not deserve to be intimidated and harassed by anyone. It is also scary to think that this happened so close to my home.
'It has kept me from sleeping well the last couple of nights. It is just awful to be verbally attacked.
'I recently married my husband who I met here in Edinburgh. This country has really given me a lot of happiness and a chance to be my true self.
'So this attack was really hurtful. Hopefully I won't see his face again and I can put this behind me. He needs help if anything, because his behaviour is irrational and dangerous, probably to himself and others.'