Warning: this story contains graphic language that may be offensive to readers.
After a long night of rehearsals in his role as Romeo, Zach Running Coyote was hungry. The 22-year-old Indigenous actor is in Red Deer, Alta. for eight months to appear in a theatre production.
He rode his bike to a McDonald’s on the south side that he’s been frequenting and ordered a McDouble, small fries, Junior Chicken and a Coke.
What happened next motivated Running Coyote to tape a monologue that’s been viewed more than 100,00 times on Facebook.
While he was waiting for his food, a couple came out of the washrooms and started talking about a news story that was playing on a restaurant TV. The report was about how charges had been dropped against a rural Alberta homeowner who had been accused of shooting a suspected thief in the arm.
Running Coyote said he heard the man in McDonald’s say: “This is a victory for Canada. If somebody comes onto my property, I’ll f**king shoot him dead.”
Running Coyote said he responded by shaking his head.
According to the actor, the couple walked over to the counter to order their meals and the man said, loudly enough for everyone in the restaurant to hear, “That little f**king Indian know-it-all better mind his own business.”
Running Coyote said he got up to confront the other customer.
“If you’re gonna call me a f**king Indian, say it to my face,” he told the man.
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