Statement: Scotland says NO to racism and Islamophobia

We are sickened by the racist and Islamophobic mob violence that we have witnessed this past weekend.

These crimes are clearly orchestrated to terrorise people of colour, whether we are refugees, asylum seekers or tax-paying citizens.

Inciting violence is a criminal offence whether online or offline. Those who 
use incendiary rhetoric for likes and follows at such a sensitive time must 
be held accountable.

People of colour are terrified of being targeted. 

We call on the Scottish Government to ensure that the far right is not 
allowed to mobilise in any Scottish town or city.  

There is a difference between legitimate peaceful protest and mob 
violence. 

We need hypervigilance and security around places of worship and 
asylum centres.

Scotland is a nation of immigrants of all faiths and none. 

People who are forced to seek refuge in this country are desperate to work
and pay their way. 

They do not want handouts or to stay in hotels.

UK asylum policy forbids them from working. 

The Hostile Environment continues to hold immigrants back.

These policies have cost this country billions of pounds in lost taxes, 
making it easy to scapegoat the most vulnerable in our society.