Top RI Exec Takes to Twitter to Call Out Anti-Immigrant Incident He Witnessed in Providence

Top RI Exec Takes to Twitter to Call Out Anti-Immigrant Incident He Witnessed in Providence

Rajiv Kumar, the President and Chief Medical Officer at Virgin Pulse, took to Twitter to call out what he says was an incident of racism that occurred in downtown Providence — and says xenophobia is “on the rise” under President Donald Trump. 

When reached by email, Kumar tells GoLocal, "I hesitate to blow this up into a bigger deal than it was, which was just some crazy person driving by ranting about immigrants. However, I will share that nothing like this has ever happened to me personally in Providence or Rhode Island (it’s happened elsewhere for sure). There were a number of similar incidents that happened to some of my South Asian friends and classmates at Brown on College Hill during the first few months post 9/11 (people driving by shouting slurs, throwing bottles, spitting, knocking students off their bikes), but since then I’ve really heard nothing like this. It’s truly sad, and there’s no doubt there is a direct and rapid connection between the racist words the current occupant of the Oval Office says and what his followers on the ground echo."

Kumar, who attend Brown Medical School and founded Shape-Up RI, Tweeted the following:

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Standing on Westminster St. next to two Asian guys during lunchtime, woman drives by us shouting “go back to Asia, go back to China, just go back home.” First time in 18 yrs living in RI that I’ve personally heard anything like that. Xenophobia is on the rise in #TrumpsAmerica

On Wednesday, Kumar -- who says on his Twitter page that "opinions are his own" took to Twitter again to decry racism in America, posting an article of brutal an attack on a Hindu priest in New York, and referenced his original Tweet.

Thank you for all who have expressed concerned. I was more surprised than bothered by it, but it’s disheartening because it feels like we are moving backward as a nation. Ultimately, the rise in hate speech can lead to hate crimes like this one. 

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In 2016, GoLocalProv recognized Kumar as “16 Who Made a Difference” in Rhode Island. 

Kumar appeared on GoLocal LIVE in 2018, saying Rhode Island is a “great state to build a business.”