A demonstration against racism ? organised in the wake of the savage attack on a Portugal football fan outside a busy Front Street bar ? will be held on the steps of Hamilton City Hall on Friday.

Organiser Jonathan Starling said the beating of Rui Medeiros, which has shocked the community, acted as the catalyst for the protest.

He plans to invite two senior politicians from both the PLP and UBP, representatives from the labour movement, a member of the sporting community and other prominent figures who have spoken previously on race issues.

He urged as many people as possible from all sections of the community to unite against race hate and bring with them a ?united nations of flags?.

He hopes that flag-waving demonstrators will also wear red, because he said it was the common colour of humanity.

?It does not matter what colour your skin is, everyone?s blood is red,? added the organiser, who stressed that he would be happy for people to turn up wearing any colour.

Mr. Starling yesterday told : ?The Rui Medeiros incident was the catalyst but I do not want people focussing on that particular case alone.?

Witnesses said that racist insults were thrown at Mr. Medeiros during the attack by four black Bermudians.

Mr. Starling said he did not want the demonstration to just focus on the relationship between black Bermudians and the Portuguese community.

?It?s about racism as a whole,? he stated. ?From attacks by thugs to institutional racism.?

He added: ?We have a legacy of slavery and segregation and I do not think we are totally confident with the idea of a multi-racial and multi-cultural society.

?A majority of people are ? but there are some elements that are not.?

The white Bermudian said he wanted people to come out on Friday and show ?solidarity for humanity as a whole?.

The 27-year-old continued: ?I?m not so naive to think that racism alone is the root of all evil in our society. It?s one part of a tangled mess. I want to do my part to untangle it a little bit.?

He said that he had experienced racism on the Island, and had on occasion been told to ?go home?.

He admitted the Island faced race challenges, but said he hoped the country would still be a pioneer for other nations when it comes to tackling the issue. ?We are small enough, rich enough and educated enough.

?If we can?t deal with it, nobody can.?

Mr. Starling added: ?I think that a lot of people have lost faith in Bermuda. A lot of people say that this is the way it is, it will never change.

?I think we can get rid of racism and work together for the future.?

The event is due to start at 12.30 p.m. on Friday.

Details of speakers are due to be confirmed over the next few days.

Mr. Starling said one speaker had been confirmed so far, and he said he plans to invite Deputy Premier Ewart Brown and Opposition Leader Wayne Furbert.

He said Premier Alex Scott would be off the Island on Friday.

Portugal fan Mr. Medeiros was attacked outside Docksiders last Wednesday after watching his team?s World Cup semi-final match against France.

He needed plastic surgery after he was kicked and punched in the face ? and could be scarred for life.

He told yesterday that he could have died in the attack.