Two men stood on a Hamilton sidewalk protesting alleged racist comments made by a Royal Gazette columnist.

The men said they were angered over columnist Christian Dunleavy’s “repeated attacks against the Premier”. One of the protesters, 61-year-old Umar Bin Al’Khattab, claimed Mr. Dunleavy was a racist.

He alleged: “I can read between the lines and what he writes is racist. He’s a UBP political hit man. What really angered me was when he called my Premier a media whore. His choice of words are really racist and dangerous.”

The men carried signs asking Axis, who employs Mr. Dunleavy, if they were going to fire him for his comments. A representative for the company said they would not comment on the protest.

Mr. Al’Khattab said the straw that broke the camel’s back was yesterday’s column in which Mr. Dunleavy suggested Premier Dr. Ewart Brown rename the Department of Immigration the Department of Intimidation.

Mr. Dunleavy was referring to the case of Curtis Macleod, a Canadian whose work permit was revoked after he got into a row with Government MP George Scott.

Yesterday, Mr. Dunleavy denied he was racist when contacted by The Royal Gazette>and said it was his right to comment on things the Government does. He said it was the first time someone has protested against his column and said he believed yesterday’s column may have hit a nerve. He added: “I think this just confirms my points on intimidation, because of what I wrote, two people decided to protest outside my place of work.

“The claim that I am racist is just the automatic response because they did not like what I wrote. Because I am Bermudian they cannot deport me so they protest me instead.

“Bermudians may think they are immune but they are not. I think people need to speak out more about what is happening.”

Mr. Dunleavy said he would continue to write his views online and in the paper because he believed it was his right to express his opinions.

On his blog, politics.bm, yesterday he wrote: “I’d like to thank the two people (is that all they could muster?) who went out of their way this morning to picket me outside of my office because of my column today.

“Thank you for proving my point about intimidation, that it starts with the expats and has already moved on to the locals.”

He also wrote: “Man, these rent-a-protestors aren’t even committed to their cause. A few drops of rain and they’re gone. At it’s pinnacle I think reporters outnumbered protesters two to one.” It has been reported that Mr. Al’Khattab also called for The Royal Gazett$>to fire Mr. Dunleavy.

Yesterday Bill Zuill, editor of The Royal Gazette, said: “I am not aware of any racist remarks that Mr. Dunleavy has made The Royal Gazette <$>towards the Premier, but if the gentleman would like to contact me I would more than happy to discuss his concerns.

“Our two regular political columnists, Christian Dunleavy and Calvin Smith, represent different sides of the political spectrum and are both very forthright and honest in their views. “Part of the function of any newspaper is to encourage political debate and both of them do that very well. I am sure there are people who would like to see one or both of them stop, but I see no reason why that should happen.”