Police have collected posters they are investigating over "intent to stir up racial hatred" in Nailsea.
Shane Jones, 40, tore down five posters bearing the message "it's okay to be white" on June 28, after seeing them displayed in the underpass of Crown Glass Shopping Centre, Somerset Square.
“It’s okay to be white” is a statement which has been linked to far-right groups in recent years after being popularised by right-wing commentator Milo Yiannopoulos.
Mr Jones, a trainee train driver, has now given a statement to Avon and Somerset police, who have collected the posters from him for their investigation.
A force spokesman said: "We are classing [the incident] as Section 18 of the Public Order Act 1986 - using words or behaviour, or displaying written material with intent to stir up racial hatred."
Posters with the same message appeared near the University of Bristol campus in January.
The Show Racism the Red Card charity said at the time: “The slogan is made to appear harmless and benign and this is, in fact, its power.
“The message of these posters deliberately encourages people to be blind to the discrimination and social harms faced by people who are not white and to be blind to the fact that the reason for this discrimination is because they are not white.”
Mr Jones reported the Nailsea posters to police after he was left “disgusted” by the slogan.
He said: “I have no time for this kind of intolerance to people who are suffering and fighting for equality, not just in the UK but worldwide.
“I’ve been living in Nailsea for four years now and I’ve found it a very friendly and open town.
“I’m actually quite embarrassed to see that this kind of racism exists here.”
The killing of George Floyd, protests by the Black Lives Matter movement and the felling of Bristol slave trader Edward Colston's statue have sparked a widespread conversation on racial injustice in recent weeks.
Show Racism the Red Card encourages anyone who sees “it’s okay to be white” posters to report them to police and if possible remove them.
“It is imperative that we stand together against such divisive actions,” a spokesperson for the charity said.
Anyone with information about the posters can call police on 101 and give reference number 5220141799.
