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20/02/2014
First Ministers Condemn Racist Comments
The First Minister and deputy First Minister have condemned racist comments directed at Hong Kong-born Alliance MLA Anna Lo.
Ms Lo was subjected to racist abuse online after some users of social networking sites objected to her proposal that paramilitary murals be removed along the route of the Giro d'Italia cycling race.
The event, one of the biggest cycling races in the world, takes place in Italy every year but also involves neighbouring countries. This year the race will begin in Belfast and take in parts of Antrim and Armagh, before heading to Dublin for the final leg.
"Funding will be made available in towns along the route to improve the image of eyesores such as derelict buildings but I have a bigger problem with images of paramilitary gunmen," Ms Lo said.
"Do we really want these images to be visible on the route when millions of people will be watching the race on television? Why would we spend money on improving derelict buildings but not deal with threatening and intimidating paramilitary murals?"
A torrent of racial abuse directed at Anna Lo followed on an online social networking site, prompting condemnation across the political spectrum.
Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness said: "We utterly condemn those who have directed racial abuse at Anna Lo, an elected representative who works tirelessly for all sections of her local community.
"Racial abuse is unacceptable on any level and these disgraceful and dehumanising comments are at complete odds with our vision of a shared and better future.
"We hope that the PSNI can find and prosecute those responsible for these despicable comments."
(IT/MH)
Ms Lo was subjected to racist abuse online after some users of social networking sites objected to her proposal that paramilitary murals be removed along the route of the Giro d'Italia cycling race.
The event, one of the biggest cycling races in the world, takes place in Italy every year but also involves neighbouring countries. This year the race will begin in Belfast and take in parts of Antrim and Armagh, before heading to Dublin for the final leg.
"Funding will be made available in towns along the route to improve the image of eyesores such as derelict buildings but I have a bigger problem with images of paramilitary gunmen," Ms Lo said.
"Do we really want these images to be visible on the route when millions of people will be watching the race on television? Why would we spend money on improving derelict buildings but not deal with threatening and intimidating paramilitary murals?"
A torrent of racial abuse directed at Anna Lo followed on an online social networking site, prompting condemnation across the political spectrum.
Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness said: "We utterly condemn those who have directed racial abuse at Anna Lo, an elected representative who works tirelessly for all sections of her local community.
"Racial abuse is unacceptable on any level and these disgraceful and dehumanising comments are at complete odds with our vision of a shared and better future.
"We hope that the PSNI can find and prosecute those responsible for these despicable comments."
(IT/MH)
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