Staff and pupils at a Glasgow primary school have been told to “keep doing what you’re doing” because “love and goodness will prevail”, after they were subjected to a barrage of racist tweets.
On Saturday, Ms Sturgeon tweeted: “Every brilliant young person and every member of staff @St AlbertsG41 is worth a million and more of the vile racists who hurl abuse at them.
“It’s my privilege to represent the wonderful, multi-ethnic, multicultural Southside of Glasgow. I stand with them, always.”
Glasgow City Council’s head of service for the education services department, Gerry Lyons, tweeted: “No one in Glasgow is going to allow any of our brilliant children to be racially abused.
“We’re so proud of all of them, and that’s the enduring message we send to all who would even think about abusing them. Not on our watch.”
Glasgow education director Douglas Hutchison said: “You believe in love rather than hate @StAlbertsG41 because love draws out the best in us while hate feeds on our smallness.
“Keep doing what you’re doing and being who you are. Love and goodness will prevail.”
The racist messages came around a week after educators involved in antiracism sessions at the Scottish Learning Festival were targeted in a similar way.
Education secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville tweeted: “Second time in as many weeks I’m on to condemn racism targeted at our young people, their teachers and their schools.
“This sort of behaviour has no place in our society. I’ve no doubt that the young people at @StAlbertsG41 will grow up to be citizens we can all be proud of. Doubt you could say the same for those that take part in a pile on towards a primary school’s Twitter feed.”
Looking for the light! Look what someone did. Surrounded us with love 💜 Overwhelmed with love and support from our community and beyond. We believe love is a verb, it’s we do next that counts. Planning firm, inclusive action. @Doug_GCC@EducationScot@GayleGgorman@GlasgowCCpic.twitter.com/yAWsosNhYU
Scottish Labour leader and Glasgow MSP Anas Sarwar tweeted: “Sending love and solidarity. No place for hate or racism - regardless of who it is from or who it is to.”
Christina Cannon, Glasgow City Council’s convener for education, skills and early years, said: “There is no place for racism in Scotland and our schools celebrate the amazing diversity of our city every day.
“I am disgusted by the vile online abuse that the school has had to endure and the impact this has had on staff, parents and the wider community.
“The keyboard warriors who hide behind their computer screens are to be pitied and could learn from the love and respect that radiates from the St Albert’s staff and pupils.”
In a statement, the school said: “Our motto is, ‘Creating Conscience-Led Communities’. We will continue to embed this in all our practice.
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