#RaiseTheLove
The inspiration for my A3 poster design came from a deeply personal moment. A few weeks earlier, I had written a song in response to the sudden appearance of flags along my street. At the time, I was navigating a divorce, struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, and feeling drained by national politics. One evening, I reminded myself of the good in my life — fulfilling work, a healthy son, a supportive partner, friends, and the joy of music and art. Yet when I turned onto my road and saw rows of England and Union Jack flags, my brief sense of lightness collapsed.
What I witnessed didn’t feel like simple patriotism. The flags had appeared suddenly, in uniform, suggesting coordination rather than neighbourhood pride. A fellow musician — a second-generation Pakistani — told me that only two flags had gone up on his street: outside his family’s house and another South Asian home. He felt singled out. His neighbour warned him to stay silent out of fear of reprisals. His unease echoed widely.
That same weekend, Tommy Robinson led a march in London. In response, I shared my song online with the message: “Fascism, even if hidden by patriotism, is still fascism… I love this country. I love this city because of its diversity and tolerance. This flag-waving, Tommy Robinson, fascist business is poison against that connection.”
A turning point came during a lunch with two friends, when we talked about flags, symbols, and how they shape belonging in our neighbourhoods. We began to imagine a response — a symbol that would stand for inclusion, pride, and togetherness rather than division. That was the moment my poster was born.
Using the familiar framework of the England flag, I reimagined it to include the flags of 16 nations whose people make up Birmingham’s diverse communities, chosen from the city’s demographic history. The design reflects the lived reality of Birmingham as a place where cultures overlap, identities interweave, and belonging is shared.
The response has been heartening. The poster has caught attention, sparked conversations, and begun to spread. Unlike the unease provoked by mass-produced flags, my design reclaims the power of symbols, offering them back as a reflection of solidarity. With the hashtag #RaiseTheLove, the message is clear: instead of fear, we choose connection.
Symbols matter. They shape who feels welcome in our streets. When flags are used as intimidation, they shrink belonging. My poster flips that script — uniting instead of dividing. In a city defined by diversity, this feels not only important, but urgent.
I am now collecting the first small run of posters to share with friends, and the design is free for anyone who wishes to use it. The accompanying song can be found here.