A PEACEFUL protest against an Edinburgh appearance by far-right commentator Katie Hopkins has been announced, with local byelection candidates backing the demonstration.
Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) Edinburgh have invited those who wish to join their peaceful protest “against the airing of obnoxious views” to attend the BMC Social Club in the capital, where Hopkins is set to perform a comedy gig on June 19.
Hopkins, a former columnist for the Mail Online, The Sun and Canadian far-right website The Rebel Media, has garnered continued criticism for her extremist views on the disabled, migrants and Muslims since her appearance on The Apprentice in 2005.
Q Manivannan, the Scottish Greens candidate for the upcoming Fountainbridge-Craiglockhart byelection, said: “Our country is built upon care, hospitality, and tolerance. Not the hate that Katie Hopkins brings, mocking disabled people, calling for a racist ‘final solution’, and fat-shaming.
“Her hate is recognised worldwide with her readers in Exeter voting to dump her, the likes of Piers Morgan calling her ‘despicable’, being held guilty of libel in a court of law, being deported from Australia, and impressing the world with her life of distrust.
“Scotland rejects such hate and racism. It has no room in our local communities."
Steve West, an independent socialist candidate for the byelection, added: "I share Stand Up To Racism's disgust that the BMC Club is hosting the racist, so-called comedian Katie Hopkins, who has also insulted disabled people.
“The club needs to be given a clear message that this is unacceptable. Edinburgh has a proud record of inclusivity and we need to keep it that way."
SUTR recently held a successful counter-demo to the “Great British National Strike” and have garnered the support of major trade union organisations, as well as several Scottish public figures like Frankie Boyle, Humza Yousaf and Aamer Anwar.
