We are writing in light of the shocked response of people in Bridport over an alleged racist assault recently.

We would urge anyone who wishes to work proactively for race equality to undertake the first step which is to educate themselves on the ways in which systemic racism works through everyone including themselves.

This is not an easy journey, but a necessary one in becoming an ally to black and brown people and to the wider anti-racist movement.

When Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi founded Black Lives Matter in 2013 they challenged not only racism, but sexism, homophobia and transphobia also, and many of us striving for race equality follow in that vein, and find the alleged homophobic incident that occurred in the the same week abhorrent.

Hate crimes are very often not reported.

If you are the victim or witness of any type of hate crime please do report this to Dorset Police.

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