Birmingham Won’t Be a Bulletin Board for Hate: Take Down Far-Right Flags from Our Streets
Birmingham Stand Up Against Racism (BSUAR) unequivocally condemns the orchestrated placement of Union Jacks and St George’s flags on lampposts, and the painting of St George’s crosses on roundabouts across our city.
This is not innocent “patriotism.” It is part of a far-right operation designed to intimidate asylum seekers, migrants, and Muslims, while sowing division in our communities.
Far-Right Figures Backing the Campaign
Nationally organised as “Operation Raise the Colours,” this campaign is neither spontaneous nor harmless. It has received explicit support from far-right figures:
Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (Tommy Robinson) has publicly urged activists to “raise the colours.”
Britain First has provided flags to organisers.
This is a coordinated extremist strategy, not a benign display of local pride. It sends a chilling message to Birmingham’s diverse communities: you are unwelcome, under surveillance, and at risk.
Why the Flags Must Come Down
We welcome Birmingham City Council’s initiative to remove these flags. But let’s be clear:
The central reason for removal is not just health and safety or legality.
These are symbols of racist intimidation and far-right organising.
To leave them in place is to allow fascist groups to mark territory and spread fear.
Hate Doesn’t Happen in a Vacuum
This campaign emerges amid a rise in racist violence:
Two elderly Sikh men were brutally attacked in Wolverhampton in a suspected racially aggravated assault.
In East London, Zahwa Salah Mukhtar, a Somali Muslim woman, was murdered—tragic proof of how far-right hostility can turn deadly.
Voices from the Community
Mukhtar Dar, Kings Heath United Against Racism:
“When that flag goes up on a lamppost, it’s not just paint or cloth—it’s a target on our backs. This is not thumping up, it’s thumping down: an attempt to intimidate and divide, not to celebrate.”
Bob Maloney, Birmingham Stand Up To Racism:
“Fascism doesn’t pick its victims by race alone—it seeks to divide, scapegoat, and oppress. The far right is a threat to all minorities, including LGBTQ+ people, and ultimately to every one of us who believes in justice, solidarity, and equality.”
Jagwant Johal, Birmingham Race Impact Group:
“By orchestrating flag displays in Birmingham’s disadvantaged wards, the far right, Reform UK and the Conservatives are fuelling anti-migrant sentiment before local elections. This risks sectarian-style divisions like Northern Ireland and demands Council action to uphold its anti-racist pledge.”
State-Sanctioned Fear & Scapegoating
Political rhetoric such as “stop the boats,” used by national figures across both Labour and Conservative parties, scapegoats migrants and legitimises far-right narratives. Human rights groups warn that this dehumanising speech normalises extremist beliefs and fuels hate on our streets.
The Union Jack: A Colonial Legacy Weaponised
The Union Jack has deep ties to Britain’s imperial past. Far-right groups—from the BNP and EDL to today’s outfits—have weaponised it as a symbol of exclusion.
This is not the same as waving a flag at a football match. Public displays on lampposts and junctions are territorial acts of political intimidation.
We Demand:
Immediate removal of all unauthorised flags and painted crosses—first and foremost because they are racist, far-right symbols of intimidation.
A public declaration by Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police that this campaign is racist intimidation, not a “health and safety” issue.
Political accountability: National parties must drop xenophobic rhetoric and adopt language grounded in dignity and justice. Scapegoating has deadly consequences.
Community mobilisation: We call on residents, faith groups, trade unions, youth and sports organisations to unite—report hate, stand with neighbours, and show that Birmingham rejects racism and fascism.
Birmingham Stand Up Against Racism
No to racism. No to division. No to fascist intimidation. Yes, to unity, safety, and justice.
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