A Maryland woman was using a machine at the gym when she was approached by a man. He wanted to utilize the same machine as her. Apparently, he would stop at nothing to get it, as he immediately started in with racist comments to intimidate her out of the gym.
Samrawit (@samrawit.hailu5) was working out on a machine at her local gym when she was confronted by an older man. He started intimidating her because he wanted to use the machine she was using. When she told him she wasn’t done using it, he told her that she had 5 minutes to use it. From there, he started berating her based on her looks and her accent. He tells her he’s going to call the police and yells, “This is my [expletive] country! This ain’t your country!”
Samrawit is in shock as she records the man shooing her away from the machine but she stands her ground. She tries to tell him that she’s American but he shoos her away with his hand and tells her to “hurry up.” When she won’t leave the machine, he continues to stand in front of it and intimidate her. She tells him, “You can’t stare me down while I’m working out.” She tells him to “step away” but he won’t leave her alone. Soon, he picks up his things and tells her that he’s “going to have her removed” from the premises.
According to Samrawit, her TikTok audience backed her up and both called and emailed the gym. She says in an update that a manager from the gym called her with an update. According to them, they “terminated” the man’s membership for how he treated her at this gym.
Commenters came to Samrawit’s video to show support for her after the racism she experienced while trying to enjoy time at the gym. One commenter shared, “The irony of calling someone illegal on stolen land.” Another commenter demanded to know, “Why does no one else ever speak up?!” One commenter added, “Never go back there again. It’s not safe! Imagine if he tried to hurt you. No one would be there to help you.” Commenters continue to share their thoughts and opinions on how the situation was handled, as well as public racism, on her video.
