A rally was held in Aberystwyth today to stand in solidarity with those who experience racist abuse.
The rally, Aberystwyth Together: We Say No To Racism, took place in the Castle Grounds.
Organised by Rhodri Ffrancis, among the speakers were Aberystwyth mayor Cllr Alun Williams, Black Lives Matter activist Bianca Ali and Stand up to Racism Wales’ Nimi Trivedi. Previously scheduled to appear, Yes Cymru’s Nikita Jones did not attend.
Speaking of the intent behind the event, Mr Francis said earlier this week: “It’s an opportunity for us to support people, like Rosedona Williams, and to give our love and compassion to them. And to tell people we object to racism.”
Earlier this month, the Cambrian News spoke to Rosedona Williams, a third year student at Aberystwyth University, after she experienced “traumatising and humiliating” racist abuse on a train to Aberystwyth.
Footage, captured by Rosedona on her phone, shows a white man racially abusing her and other black people on the train, before raising his hand in a Nazi salute.
British Transport Police are investigating the incident.
Mr Ffrancis continued: “I saw what happened to Rosedona Williams on the train and it was horrific. My wife is Asian and she has suffered racist abuse. In the latest incident, she has suffered online racist abuse, and I know somebody else who has.
“It’s something I feel very strongly about. Even though Aberystwyth is a caring and compassionate place, unfortunately we do get incidents when a few people do horrible things.
“This rally is about saying we are with the people, we are with those who have been racially abused, we as a town are proudly diverse.”