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Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Chris McCall

Nicola Sturgeon condemns 'vile' racist abuse aimed at Glasgow primary school pupils

Nicola Sturgeon has condemned the "vile" racist abuse aimed at pupils of a Glasgow school after she was pictured visiting a classroom last week.

Teachers at St Albert's Primary in Pollokshields were forced to call in police due to the volume of hatred that was posted in response to images shared on social media.

The First Minister visited the school - which is in her Southside constituency - to congratulate pupils on their efforts during Climate Action Week.

Headteacher Clare Harker later said school staff were "horrified" by the actions of some social media users

Sturgeon told MSPs today: "No one should ever experience racism and all of us have a duty to stand firmly in solidarity with anyone who does.

Nicola Sturgeon with children from St Albert's Primary. (Twitter/StAlbertsG41)

"The vile racist abuse that was directed at staff and children on the back of the Scottish Learning Festival should be condemned, and I do condemn it.

"Let me comment, particularly given how close to my own heart it is, on the experience of pupils at St Albert's Primary in my own constituency.

"St Albert's is a fantastic school with fantastic staff and utterly outstanding young people.

"Racism always sickens me but there is nothing that turns my stomach more than the idea of adults that can look at a photograph of beautiful clever children, and only see the colour of their skin."

Police Superintendent Patrick Murphy said: "We are continuing with inquiries and providing support to St Albert’s Primary School.

"Police Scotland operates a zero tolerance approach to hate crime on social media platforms and those identified will be dealt with in the appropriate manner.

"We would encourage anyone to report social media hate crime offences to Police Scotland on 101 or at a designated third party reporting centre.

"We are committed to providing a professional and consistent approach to victims of hate crime, treating everyone equally with due regard to their differences."

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