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Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Daily Record
Mum horrified as racist on Scot street tells her 'go back to your own country'
The 40-year-old mother of two claims she was racially abused close to her home in Edinburgh. A Mexican mum has been left shaken after she claimed she was racially abused by a man in a Hibs top in Edinburgh. Rocio Martinez, 40, was returning home from a rehearsal when the incident took place close to her Abbeyhill home. The mum-of-two, originally from Mexico City but currently living in the capital with her young family, looked on as a man allegedly acted extremely aggressively while on the phone in a residential area, reports Edinburgh Live. She describes the male as being around 5ft7 to 5ft9 with short brown hair and a beard, as well as heavy eyebrows and wearing black jogging bottoms with a Hibs shirt. 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. '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 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.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. 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Edinburgh Live
20-05-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh mum horrified as man tells her to 'go back to your own country'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info 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. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. '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. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox '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.'
Los Angeles Times
14-04-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Prep talk: Velazquez family keeps delivering for Crespi
Across the Southland, high school baseball is a family affair. On the field, older brothers are playing. In the snack shack, moms and dads work. Younger brothers cheer when they aren't practicing their hitting skills with Wiffle balls. At Crespi home games, the mother of shortstop Diego Velazquez, Rocio, is so busy cooking hot dogs and hamburgers that she misses out when her son hits home runs or doubles. Her younger sons, David, 10, and Damian, 7, are either helping her out or playing games around the snack shack. Diego, a USC commit, isn't mad if someone misses a key moment. 'There will be more,' he said. For senior day, maybe his mother will take a little break to watch the game. There's lots of baseball to be played in the coming years for the Velazquez boys. . . . The Mt. SAC Invitational in track and field is set for Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College. This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Yahoo
Omagh inquiry ‘allowing us to close wound that has been open for 26 years'
The sister of a young Spanish woman killed in the Omagh bombing has described a public inquiry into the atrocity as 'allowing us to close a wound that has been open for 26 years'. Rocio Abad Ramos, 23, from Madrid was among 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, who were killed in the dissident republican bomb attack in the Co Tyrone town in 1998. She had been involved in an exchange trip with young Spanish children to Buncrana in Co Donegal. They had been visiting Omagh on August 15 when the bomb exploded. Her sister Paloma Abad Ramos gave evidence to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry on Tuesday as it started commemorative hearings focusing on the victims and those affected. Speaking through a translator, Ms Ramos also told the inquiry she hoped it will uncover the truth of what happened, saying she felt the news in Spain at the time had been 'restricted'. She thanked those behind the inquiry, saying: 'This is the only support that we've had for many many years'. Completing her evidence, she said: 'I on behalf of my family want to thank you, the inquiry, for this opportunity because you are allowing us to close a wound that has been open for 26 years'. While Ms Ramos's evidence was at times emotional, she also recalled how her sister, who had been to Ireland five times, had initially not been impressed with the local food, complaining about seeing butter and peas everywhere. But she said she grew to enjoy Irish food, even exchanging recipes with those she had befriended in Donegal. Having travelled from Spain to give evidence at the inquiry at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh, Ms Ramos said she had thought about how hard it would be to go to Omagh where her sister had died. But she said in fact it had been difficult to be at the airport because that was the last place she had seen her alive. Ms Ramos described her sister as someone who was very athletic, who had been a Spanish long jump champion at 18, was also academically clever, winning a scholarship to university. She said her sister gave her time to help others, including supporting vulnerable people to complete the Camino De Santiago pilgrimage. She also expressed gratitude for all the letters her family had received from people in Ireland following her sister's death. In her statement to the inquiry she said when her parents left her sister at the airport, she was so excited to be going on the trip, and having just finished her studies she had a world of possibilities ahead of her. 'As our parents hugged and said goodbye to Rocio, little did they know that was to be the last time they would see their daughter alive,' the inquiry heard she said in her statement. Asked about that during the hearing, Ms Ramos said: 'I was thinking it would be very, very difficult to walk along the street where the bomb had exploded, well this happened to us at the airport, the airport was the last place we saw Rocio alive.' Back in August 1998, she arrived home from a holiday to learn what had happened to her sister, and followed her parents to Belfast, on a military plane with the families of other Spanish citizens who lost their lives or were injured. 'Imagine a military plan with no seats, seated on a net with 20 more people, family members of wounded and victims, it was a very tense situation,' she told the inquiry. She paid tribute to being sheltered from seeing the bomb scene. She also told the inquiry she wanted to thank those who recovered her sister's remains, describing going to the morgue as a 'moment I will never forget in my life'. They returned to Madrid on a military plane, with two coffins, Rocio's, as well as that of 12-year-old Fernando Blasco Baselga who was also killed in the bomb. She described hugging her sister's coffin on the flight back. On their return to Madrid, the two coffins were covered with Spanish flags and given a military parade, and later a state funeral which she compared to a Champions League final with crowds of people in attendance, including the King's daughter. 'I was in shock, just three days before we learned that our sister had been killed in a terrorist bombing in Ireland, it was mind-blowing and we were not able to cope with this,' she said. 'We were directed to (the) funeral parlour, it was like the final of the Champions League because there were so, so many people, our grief was made public … we were not left in peace.' Ms Ramos summed her sister up as an extrovert, and a 'very special person' who had a love of Ireland. 'She had a family here, she loved Irish and the culture and the country,' she added.
