NICOLA Sturgeon has condemned "vile racists" who hurled abuse at primary school children after they were visited by her.
After the First Minister visited St Albert's Primary School in Glasgow at the end of September as part of Climate Week, a number of people responded with racist remarks to a photo she posted online.
The incident has now been reported as a hate crime.
During First Minister's Questions, Sturgeon said "nothing turns my stomach more than the idea of adults that can look at a photo of beautiful clever children and only see the colour of their skin".
Kaukab Stewart asked the FM for her response to reports some ethnic minority teaching professionals had experienced racist online abuse after sharing their plans for more diversity in Scottish education at the Scottish Learning Festival.
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She also asked her to join her in condemning racist abuse faced by staff and pupils at St Albert's Primary, and racist graffiti found on the University of Glasgow campus.
Sturgeon said: "No one should ever experience racism and all of us have a duty to stand firmly in solidarity with anyone who does and against those who are racist.
"The vile racist abuse that was directed at teaching professionals, staff, and children on the back of the Scottish Learning Festival should be condemned and I do condemn it.
"Let me make comment particularly given how close to my heart it is the experience of pupils at St Albert's Primary in my own constituency. It is a school I know very well, it’s a fantastic school.
"I was privileged on Friday to visit that school as I have been so many times in the past.
"Racism always sickens me, but there is nothing that turns my stomach more than the idea of adults that can look at a photo of beautiful, clever children and only see the colour of their skin.
"It is despicable, it is disgusting. It has no place in Scotland and I hope all of us unite in the condemnation of vile racists everywhere."
She received rapturous applause from the chamber.
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