More ‘It’s okay to be White’ posters pop up in Basingstoke

The latest posters have come up on Eastrop Lane and near the Eastrop fountain, according to residents.

But some residents have written over the slogan with a marker pen to make it read ‘It’s okay to be trans + dyslexic’ and ‘It’s okay to be gay’.

'It's okay to be white' (IOTBW) is an alt-right slogan started in the United States based on an organised trolling campaign supported by white supremacists, including neo-Nazis.

Hampshire Constabulary had earlier confirmed to the Gazette that they are treating the case as a hate incident.

Although police have said they have asked Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s street cleaning team to remove all the posters, the Eastrop displays have not been taken down.

A spokesperson for the Hampshire Constabulary said: “We were made aware of a number of posters that were placed on lampposts on Cliddesden Road, New Road and Worting Road in Basingstoke.

“Some of the posters have since been removed and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s street cleaning team has been tasked to remove them fully.

“This has been recorded as a hate incident and we are now liaising with our local community groups.”

This is not the first time IOTBW posters have been displayed in the UK.

In July last year, similar posters were displayed at the entrance of a shopping centre in Somerset.