Dundonians are being urged to take a public stand against Nazism as police investigate racist and homophobic posters put up around the city.
Anti-immigrant posters were torn down from lampposts by disgusted members of the public earlier this week.
But the far-right thugs also targeted a youth group that supports lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people in Dundee and the city’s registrar’s office.
The group – which calls itself the System Resistance Network – put up sickening stickers that proclaimed messages such as “AIDS isn’t a disease, it’s a cure to fa**otry. Hail AIDS”.
Police are treating the incidents as potential hate crimes.
Now disgusted residents of Dundee are organising a Nae Nazis in Dundee rally in the City Square at 3pm on Sunday to show far-right groups their views have no place in the city.
Fergus McMillan, chief executive of LGBT Youth Scotland, said: “This is vile homophobia and people in Dundee have made it clear that such disgusting propaganda isn’t welcome in the city, nor does it have a place in modern Scotland.
“I’m personally sickened by this poster and determined that it won’t hinder our work with LGBTI young people anywhere in Scotland. We have reported the incident as a hate crime to Police Scotland.”
A spokesperson for Dundee Pride, which is organising the city’s first LGBT Pride rally next year, said: “We are deeply saddened and shocked to see the appalling and vile homophobic abuse which targeted Dundee LGBT youth group, Allsorts.
“That such a vitriolic attack would be aimed at young people makes this even more abhorrent. There is no place in modern society for such hatred and it will not be tolerated in this city. We have to ensure that our young people are safe and know that they are valued, important and loved.
“Despite legal protections and improving social attitudes towards LGBT people in the past 15 years, these actions demonstrate there is still much to do before true social inclusion is achieved for LGBT people. Organisations like Allsorts and Dundee Pride are needed today just as much as at the beginning of our fight for basic human rights.”
Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said: “These posters are shocking and repugnant. Targeting a youth group in this way is just appalling.
“What we have here is a tiny minority, perhaps just one individual, seeking to stir up hatred, but they will not succeed. Such bigotry is not welcome in Dundee and is not representative of the inclusive and tolerant views held by the people of this city.”
Dundee West MP Chris Law visited Allsorts on Friday afternoon.
He said: “These cowards need to be told loudly and clearly that there is no place for these attacks in our modern Dundee.
“Hate speech is not welcome in our inclusive and progressive city.
“It is up to us all to help end these incidents, and I urge anyone who finds any further instances of criminal activities to report it to the relevant authorities as quickly as possible ”
A spokesman for Police Scotland’s Tayside Division said: “Over the past few days posters displaying racist and homophobic content have appeared at various locations throughout Dundee city centre.
“Obviously, offensive material like this is completely unacceptable, and distributing it is illegal.
“We know that the public in Dundee have been reacting with outrage and disgust, and that some of these posters have been removed by members of the public. If you have done this and believe that we are unaware of where a poster has been or when it has appeared there, we would like you to let us know.
“We are investigating these events, and we would like to ask anyone who has information, to contact us.”
