A RALLY against racism will take place today following numerous reports of racially-motivated abuse following the Brexit vote.

From 11am-1pm an anti-racist peaceful protest will take place at Bournemouth Square. At the time of going to press, more than 100 people had signed up to the Facebook event.

Organiser Poppy-Jay Palmer decided to host the event after her own Thai father was verbally abused.

She said: “People are being so vocal with their racism it’s making people think they can be now,” she said. “People have been made to feel unwelcome in their own homes and that’s not right.”

The news comes with another report that a 39-year-old man was told to ‘**** off and go home”.

Alex Stewart was crossing the road outside Tesco Metro in Bournemouth Square Wednesday evening when he was verbally abused by a passing motorist.

Mr Stewart, who describes himself as visibly mixed race due his Eurasian heritage, said a man travelling in a white van shouted the obscenity.

He said he was left ‘absolutely stunned’ by the vicious remark.

“Things don’t happen like that in Bournemouth. It’s never been marked with crimes of a racist nature,” the former St Peter’s School student said. “This has never happened in the 30 years I have lived here.

“They could tell I was a person of colour even though I’m British. For me the most important thing was what if it was someone who was vulnerable like an old lady, or a woman with a child, or a child himself? I really wanted to speak out to express the frustration people have been feeling since the Brexit vote.

“At the end of the day whether people voted in or out - my own partner voted out and that’s absolutely fine - everybody is entitled to a free vote and that’s democratic. But factions have decided to express their own internal xenophobia and racism by hijacking the Brexit vote.

“I want to express how deeply sad I am the way the Brexit vote has divided the nation affecting individuals from all walks of life especially in a time where we should be standing closer together with our family, neighbours , friends and allies.”

Adnan Chaudry, chief officer of the Dorset Race Equality Council which is helping to run Sunday’s event, said: “With all the negativity that’s gone on for the last five-six days it’s really important to do something positive. It is so critical to have mutual respect for people, whichever way they voted, and people are disgusted with how the minority have been treated.”