Why Birmingham’s ‘Brum Together’ Statement Matters

Birmingham is a city shaped by migration, multiculturalism and community. From the foundries and factories that once drew workers from across the world, to today’s diverse neighbourhoods, its strength has always come from people coming together. That is why a new campaign, Brum Together, has struck such a powerful chord.

The statement, initiated by residents and supported by groups including Birmingham Friends of the Earth, Birmingham Climate Justice Coalition, Birmingham Race Impact Group, Stand Up To Racism Birmingham, ChangeKitchen CIC, Woodcraft Folk and others, is a response to the controversial “Operation Raising the Colours.” The campaign has seen streets across Birmingham suddenly covered in Union Jacks and St George’s flags.

While flags are often associated with celebration and pride, many Brummies say this orchestrated wave feels less like community spirit and more like intimidation. The Brum Together statement puts it simply:
“There is nothing wrong with people flying a national flag from their home. But when flags appear across our streets in a coordinated campaign, we should ask: is this about shared pride, or something more divisive? True pride is inclusive. The best way to show love for Birmingham is not through one symbol alone, but through celebrating everyone who calls this city home.”

For some, these flags are harmless symbols of patriotism. But for many others, they are unsettling — a sign of division rather than unity. Residents from across the city have spoken about feeling “frightened,” “unwelcome,” and even “menaced” by the displays, particularly because far-right groups are known to use such symbols to stake out territory and spread exclusionary politics.

Memoona from Birmingham summed it up: “Everyone should have the right to live without fear.” Birgit from Kings Heath added, “I want to stand up against racism, nationalism, homophobia, transphobia and all the other OTHERING going on! Let’s stand together!”

That call for unity has been echoed across neighbourhoods — from Selly Oak to Moseley, Billesley to Northfield. People have signed the statement because they want Birmingham to remain welcoming, safe, and inclusive. For many, the sheer scale of the flag campaign feels “politically motivated,” “provocative,” and “designed to mark territory and sow division.”

In a letter published in the Birmingham Post, John Cooper, one of the statement’s supporters, wrote to explain his views about the flags. He argued that while some flag-waving might genuinely aim at expressing national pride, the coordinated nature and sheer volume of the campaign give it a different character. Cooper warned that in a city as diverse as Birmingham, symbolism carries weight — and that mass flag-flying can too easily slip from celebration into assertion, exclusion, or intimidation, especially when those displays go unchecked. His piece serves as a reminder that flags don’t float in a vacuum: they interact with history, power, identity — and sometimes with real fear. Read here.

The strength of Brum Together lies in its reminder that Birmingham’s identity is not bound to one colour or one symbol. It is found in its people — people who are Muslim, Sikh, Christian, atheist, Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist; people who are LGBTQ+, people of every heritage, and people proud to call this city their home.

In a time when the far-right is gaining confidence, using intimidation and symbolism to spread fear, Brum Together is an important declaration that Birmingham will not be divided. It insists that pride should never come at the expense of belonging.

As one supporter, Naomi from Cotteridge, put it: “This recent flag mounting may be non-violent but grooms the pernicious narrative that only whites are ‘real’ or trustworthy English people.” Another resident, Kate from Billesley, described seeing the flags as “deeply concerning for the future of our beautifully diverse city.”

The Brum Together statement is not anti-flag or anti-patriotism. It is about reclaiming Birmingham as a place where no one is made to feel like an outsider. Its message is urgent: true pride is inclusive, and our diversity is our strength.

You can read, sign, and share the statement here.