'We will tackle hate crime with love', Inverness café owners vow after bigots target Xoko at Christmas
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A city café repeatedly targeted by bigots in recent months has vowed to fight their hate with love after they were targeted again at Christmas.
Xoko in Inverness has been subjected to a spate of homophobic crime recently, with Pride flags repeatedly targeted, spitting incidents reported, verbal abuse, and broken glass left in its entrance.
On Christmas Eve it emerged that the popular, award-winning Bridge Street business had again been targeted in recent days – an incident which came just a week after staff said they 'no longer felt safe' due to the spate of hate crimes.
Those incidents prompted the popular bakehouse to post the defiant words of Mahatma Gandhi, who once said: "First, they will ignore you, then they will laugh at you, then they will fight you, then you will win.”
And in keeping with that defiant message, the café has vowed to continue to spread a message of love after bigots again targeted them at Christmas.
Posting on Christmas Day, co-owners Fernando and Tristan said: "Our Christmas greetings this morning was a burnt pride flag left at our door and a note to say Happy Christmas.
"This week alone we have had two flags torn down and one of them burnt. Our windows have been spat on and broken glass left at our entrance.
"For every flag they rip down, for every flag they burn, for every time they spit on our windows we will put another flag up, we will smile and we will love.
"Thank you for all your flag donations. We could replace each flag with three! We know how many of you care and stand with us. If you see anything over the next few weeks, please report it to the police. The police are taking these hate crimes very seriously.
"Love and Joy to you all."
