Humza Yousaf has shared his own experience of policing after the country's top cop admitted the national force was "institutionally racist".
The First Minister told MSPs today how he had been stopped and searched by officers "over a dozen times" as a youth.
The SNP leader was responding to comments from Iain Livingstone, the out-going Chief Constable of Police Scotland, who was speaking at a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA).
"It is right for me, the right thing for me to do as chief constable, to clearly state that institutional racism, sexism, misogyny and discrimination exist," the top cop said.
“Police Scotland is institutionally racist and discriminatory."
Livingstone added that admitting that institutional issues exist is “essential to our absolute commitment to championing equality and becoming an anti-racist service".
Speaking at Holyrood, Yousaf welcomed the intervention of Livingstone and described it as "monumental" and "historic".
He added it was now up to the police and all other organisations to work towards dismantling barriers of discrimination.
The SNP leader said: "The statement from the Chief Constable is monumental, historic.
"I remember raising issues around racism in the police force, Strathclyde Police as it was back then, when I was stopped and searched over a dozen times as a young boy - whether it was in my car, or walking with my friends in the street, or in an airport.
"So the acknowledgment from the Chief Constable is very welcome indeed.
"I hope it also serves as a reminder to all of us that in, whatever organisation we belong to, we have a responsibility to also question the organisations we lead, that we examine and reflect on whether we are doing enough to dismantle those barriers not just of institutional racism, but structural discrimination that exists for many people."
He added: "As the Chief Constable himself has said, having now made that acknowledgement, it's so important we now see action in terms of what can be done to dismantle those barriers.
"I take my responsibility seriously as First Minister and I rededicate myself to do everything that I can to dismantle those barriers of institutional racism, misogyny, bigotry and discrimination where they exist in the Scottish Government and across society."
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