Our post last week about the far-right flag campaign has struck a cord. We’ve had lots of messages from people inspired into action or asking for advice on what they can do.
Today, we’re updating you on our actions, and sharing templates you can use to challenge your local council and MP to respond better.
When we sent our letter, Cumberland Council had put out a statement reiterating that they are ‘”proud” to fly the flag, simply saying “unauthorised flags, posters, banners or other items attached to highways infrastructure without permission are removed to avoid causing distractions to road users and damaging infrastructure”.
Westmorland & Furness have since put out a statement similar to Cumberland’s.
To ignore the realities of the far-right campaign which is behind this, is to blatantly ignore the harm it is inflicting and the division it is deepening. It is ignoring the increasing fear and risk Black and Brown people are facing in our county.
To push back on this, we came together with local organisations working on racism, refugee rights, and multiculturalism to send a letter of concern and encourage both councils to re-think their approach.
We also urged local MPs to press the government to do more than this statement which we saw in the press:
“Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson says the Prime Minister “absolutely” supports people raising English and British flags…Patriotism will always be an important thing to him.”
Simply pointing to ‘patriotism’ was a far-right dog-whistle and completely dismissed the roots of the campaign.
Since, the PM has refused to directly call out the far-right campaign behind the flags, and said in an interview that he is a ‘supporter of flags’ and ‘has a St. Georges flag in his flat’. Asked if he was encouraging of people putting up more flags, he said “I’m very encouraging of flags”. He did say “I don’t think they should be de-valued and belittled and I think sometimes when they’re used purely for divisive purposes it actually devalues the flag”. This isn’t enough. We want to see our government face up to the far-right, rather than release coded statements like this that don’t address what the increase in flags really is – a result of a far-right campaign which is racist and dangerous.
The government strategy of ‘ignoring’ racism and far-right violence is not working. We have to demand better.
If you’ve been wondering what you can do, you can start by using our templates to write to your council and your MP. They will only listen if more of us speak up.
We strongly encourage you to use the templates as inspiration and put things into your own words. These letters were sent on the 28th August and from a collective of third sector organisations, so they have been written from that perspective. Letter’s tend to get ignored if they are copy + pasted or if they are same as other letters being sent in.
If you do take action based on our post or using these templates, get in touch via email hello@antiracistcumbria.org and let us know! It’s a great way for us to trace our impact.
Cumberland Council
Dear Andrew Seekings and Mark Fryer,
We are writing to you as third sector organisations working towards making Cumberland a genuinely safer place free of racism for Black and Brown people – including people seeking asylum, refugees, and Black and Brown residents who have lived in the UK for generations.
We were disappointed and concerned to read your statement the local press:
‘In response to local reports of flags being put up in parts of the Cumberland area, Cumberland Council has issued guidance.
A spokesperson said:
“Cumberland Council is proud to fly our national flags on our property
“We support the right of residents to fly our national flags on their property.
“Unauthorised flags, posters, banners or other items attached to highways infrastructure without permission are removed to avoid causing distractions to road users and damaging infrastructure.”
The council stressed that residents are welcome to fly flags on private property but urged caution when attaching them to street furniture, lampposts, or public buildings without approval’.
We know that the council will be well aware that this increase in flags in public spaces is not a coincidence and is a direct result of the ‘Operation Raise the Colours’ campaign led by extremist far-right figures. HOPE not Hate have exposed this in detail here.
The main organiser behind the ‘operation raise the colours’ campaign is Andrew Currien (Andy Saxon) an ally of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (Tommy Robinson). He was formerly on the leadership bodyguard team for the EDL, and is currently in charge of security for Britain First. He has also been jailed for his role in a racist death.
Similarly dangerous far-right figures are involved in local campaigns. For example, one of the main organisers in Nottingham is another ally of Lennon, Guramit Singh. Formerly a key member of the EDL, he is now running the Predator Hunter series for Lennon’s media outlet Urban Scoop.
Britain First have also been supporting by supplying 75% of their flag stock.
The figures behind this campaign make it clear that this is about much more than patriotism. This is about nationalism, which at its heart is about hate and superiority. It is the opposite of diversity and leaves many in your communities feeling anything but safe. For your stance (quote) not to acknowledge this is unacceptable.
This is about:
1. Proving the narrative that “you’re not allowed to be proud of England anymore!” is true so that they can whip up support and more racist violence. They are doing this by encouraging flags to be put up in public places where they KNOW organisations like yourselves will have no choice but to remove them, so they can evidence ‘they are taking our flag’.
2. Instilling fear in Black and Brown people. The far-right are well aware that they have successfully co-opted the flag – there is a long record of it being co-opted by far-right groups, rioters, and violent hooliganism. While for many people it is a symbol of national pride, the far-right know that it provokes real fear in Black and Brown people who have been at the receiving end of racist attacks and intimidation by people holding the flag or wearing it on their football shirts, or as tattoos. This is convenient because they can put out a racist message in an accepted way, hiding behind the flag. The intention is to make Black and Brown people feel unsafe, fearful, and to take ‘hostile environment’ into their own hands. There have already been reports of Black and Brown people pulling out of house purchases because these flags are in their area. This is the intention.
3. Staking out their territory. By ‘claiming our streets’ they’re sending a clear message about who is and who isn’t welcome and safe here. The effect of this locally is very real and builds on the existing high levels of fear and racial trauma in the community following the racist, Islamophobic, anti-Black and anti-migrant rioting and ‘demonstrations’ we saw last year which we have continued to see this summer (this time closer to home in Dalton). It also builds on high levels of overt racist incidents and attacks in public, not to mention the normalised racism which doesn’t get recorded or recognised.
Read these quotes about the impact the flag can have*.
“Big groups of white people in football shirts carrying flags scare the shit out of me. I don’t think I’ll ever get over that….Seeing flags on cars and hanging out of windows feels like a personal attack – it’s like a symbol of white supremacy and hate. I had to go to Tesco in Kendal town centre just after the win against Germany. There were crowds of people shouting and jumping all over each other. I was terrified. I sat in my car for 15 mins until they had moved past. I didn’t want to come face to face with them (or even for them to see me)”.
“Heart thudding and trying to stay invisible. I’m always convinced they’ll stab me and no one will notice. More than mildly panicked by them [flags]. I swear the fear they’ve built up over the years”.
“That the flag of your country strikes fear into your heart is so f***ing depressing, I hate that racists adopted it”.
These are from your constituents, residents, neighbours, people who live in your community. .
Considering Cumberland Council is committed to Community Cohesion, and becoming a Council of Sanctuary, the public response which completely ignores the far-right, racist forces behind the campaign and increase in flags recently is unacceptable.
This isn’t about us as organisations but how we represent and advocate for our community and the people we are in service of. We ask you:-:
How do you expect Black and Brown people to feel safe when the very real effect these flags and this campaign are having on them are ignored?
How is this statement in line with your commitments to City of Sanctuary, Community Cohesion, your equality duty obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and your aim to make sure Cumberland is safe for everyone who lives, works, and travels here?
We the undersigned organisations demand to know how you will address these very real concerns and support all of those in your communities, reassuring them that you have every intention of striving towards them feeling safe.
Westmorland & Furness Council
Dear Sam Plum and Jonathon Brook,
We are writing to you as third sector organisations who are working towards making Cumberland a genuinely safe place free of racism for Black and Brown people – including people seeking asylum, refugees and Black and Brown residents who have lived in the UK for generations.
We were disappointed and concerned that Westmorland & Furness have not issued a statement as other councils have, including Cumberland Council.
This is despite the ongoing racist and Islamophobic protests outside the Islamic Centre and the concentrated effort the far-right are making to gain support in Barrow and surrounding areas.
We encourage you to issue a statement and guidance to make it clear that the safety of Black and Brown people in your area is a priority.
Whilst Cumberland Council have published a statement, we have written a separate letter to them raising concerns around their approach, which failed to acknowledge the real driver behind the increase in flags locally and nationally.
The flags being erected in public spaces are a direct result of a campaign led by extremist far-right figures. HOPE not Hate have exposed this in detail here.
The main organiser behind the ‘operation raise the colours’ campaign is Andrew Currien (Andy Saxon) an ally of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (Tommy Robinson). He was formerly on the leadership bodyguard team for the EDL, and is currently in charge of security for Britain First. He has also been jailed for his role in a racist death.
Similarly dangerous far-right figures are involved in local campaigns. For example, one of the main organisers in Nottingham is another ally of Lennon, Guramit Singh. Formerly a key member of the EDL, he is now running the Predator Hunter series for Lennon’s media outlet Urban Scoop.
Britain First have also been supporting by supplying 75% of their flag stock.
The figures behind this campaign make it clear that this is about much more than patriotism.
This is about:
1. Proving the narrative that “you’re not allowed to be proud of England anymore!” is true so that they can whip up support and more racist violence. They are doing this by encouraging flags to be put up in public places where they KNOW organisations like yourselves will have no choice but to remove them, so they can evidence ‘they are taking our flag’.
2. Instilling fear in Black and Brown people. The far-right are well aware that they have successfully co-opted the flag – there is a long record of it being co-opted by far-right groups, rioters and violent hooliganism. While for many white people it is a symbol of national pride, the far-right know that it provokes real fear in Black and Brown people who have been at them receiving end of racist attacks and intimidation by people holding the flag or wearing it on their football shirts, or as tattoos. This is convenient because they can put out a racist message in an accepted way, hiding behind the flag. The intention is to make Black and Brown people feel unsafe, fearful, and to take ‘hostile environment’ into their own hands. There have already been reports of Black and Brown people pulling out of house purchases because these flags are in their area. This is the intention.
3. Staking out their territory. By ‘claiming our streets’ they’re sending a clear message about who is and who isn’t welcome and safe here. The effect of this locally is very real and builds on the existing high levels of fear and racial trauma in the community following the racist, Islamophobic, anti-Black and anti-migrant rioting and ‘demonstrations’ we saw last year which we have continued to see this summer (this time closer to home in Dalton). It also builds on high levels of overt racist incidents and attacks in public, not to mention the normalised racism which doesn’t get recorded or recognised.
Read these quotes:
“Big groups of white people in football shirts carrying flags scare the shit out of me. I don’t think I’ll ever get over that….Seeing flags on cars and hanging out of windows feels like a personal attack – it’s like a symbol of white supremacy and hate. I had to go to Tesco on in Kendal town centre just after the win against Germany. There were crowds of people shouting and jumping all over each other. I was terrified. I sat in my car for 15 mins until they had moved past. I didn’t want to come face to face with them (or even for them to see me)”.
“Heart thudding and trying to stay invisible. I’m always convinced they’ll stab me and no one will notice. More than mildly panicked by them (flags). I swear the fear they’ve built up over the years”.
“That the flag of your country strikes fear into your heart is so f**ing depressing, I hate that racists adopted it”.
These are from your constituents, neighbours, people who live in your community.
Considering Westmorland & Furness Council is committed to Community Cohesion and Community Safety, the lack of any statement is disappointing.
This isn’t about us as organisations but how we represent and advocate for our community and the people we are in service of. We ask you:-
How do you expect Black and Brown people to feel safe when the very real effect these flags and this campaign are having on them are ignored?
How is this statement in line with your commitments to Community Cohesion, your equality duty obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and your aim to make sure Cumberland is safe for everyone who lives, works, and travels here?
We the undersigned organisations demand to know how you will address these very real concerns and support all of those in your communities, reassuring them that you have every intention of striving towards them feeling safe.
MPs
(Letters to MPs are best tailored to their political party. The below letter was sent to Labour MPs).
Dear_________
We are writing to you as a charity working towards making Cumbria, and Whitehaven & Workington, a genuinely safer place free of racism for Black and Brown people – including people seeking asylum, refugees, and Black and Brown residents who have lived in the UK for
generations.
We were disappointed and concerned to read Kier Starmer’s response in the news:
“Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson says the Prime Minister “absolutely” supports people raising English and British flags…Asked what the Prime Minister’s view is on the councils that have removed the flags, the PM’s official spokesman said on Monday: “I think the PM has always talked about his pride of being British, the patriotism he feels. I think he’s talked about that previously […]not least recently in relation to the Lionesses’ successful campaign in the Euros. Patriotism will always be an important thing to him.”
This response is disingenuous as we are sure the Prime Minister, and all MPs, are well aware this is not just a case of an innocent increase in flags in public spaces. The flags are a direct result of the ‘Operation Raise the Colours’ campaign led by extremist far-right figures. HOPE not
Hate have exposed this in detail here.
The main organiser behind the ‘operation raise the colours’ campaign is Andrew Currien (Andy Saxon) an ally of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (Tommy Robinson). He was formerly on the leadership bodyguard team for the EDL, and is currently in charge of security for Britain First. He has also been jailed for his role in a racist death.
Similarly dangerous far-right figures are involved in local campaigns. For example, one of the main organisers in Nottingham is another ally of Yaxley-Lennon, Guramit Singh. Formerly a key member of the EDL, he is now running the Predator Hunter series for Lennon’s media outlet Urban Scoop.
Britain First have also been supporting by supplying 75% of their flag stock.
The figures behind this campaign make it clear that this is about much more than patriotism. This is about nationalism, which at its heart is about hate and superiority. It is the opposite of diversity and leaves many in your communities feeling anything but safe. For the Prime Minister not to acknowledge this is unacceptable.
This campaign is about:
1. Proving the narrative that “you’re not allowed to be proud of England anymore!” is true so that they can whip up support and more racist violence. They are doing this by encouraging flags to be put up in public places where they KNOW organisations like yourselves will have no choice but to remove them, so they can evidence ‘they are taking our flag’.
2. Instilling fear in Black and Brown people. The far-right are well aware that they have successfully co-opted the flag – there is a long record of it being co-opted by far-right groups, rioters and violent hooliganism. While for many white people it is a symbol of national pride, the far-right know that it provokes real fear in Black and Brown people who have been at the receiving end of racist attacks and intimidation by people holding the flag or wearing it on their football shirts, or as tattoos. This is convenient because they can put out a racist message in an accepted way, hiding behind the flag. The intention is to make Black and Brown people feel unsafe, fearful, and to take ‘hostile environment’ into their own hands. There have already been reports of Black and Brown people pulling out of house purchases because these flags are in their area. This is the intention.
2. Staking out their territory. By ‘claiming our streets’ they’re sending a clear message about who is and who isn’t welcome and safe here.
The effect of this locally is very real and builds on the existing high levels of fear and racial trauma in the community following the racist, Islamophobic, anti-Black and anti-migrant rioting and ‘demonstrations’ we saw last year which we have continued to see this summer (this time closer to home in Dalton). It also builds on high levels of overt racist incidents and attacks in public, not to mention the normalised racism which doesn’t get recorded or recognised.
Read these quotes from Black and Brown people living in Cumbria about the impact the flag can have*.
“Big groups of white people in football shirts carrying flags scare the shit out of me. I don’t think I’ll ever get over that….Seeing flags on cars and hanging out of windows feels like a personal attack – it’s like a symbol of white supremacy and hate. I had to go to Tesco in Kendal town centre just after the win against Germany. There were crowds of people shouting and jumping all over each other. I was terrified. I sat in my car for 15 mins until they had moved past. I didn’t want to come face to face with them (or even for them to see me)”.
“Heart thudding and trying to stay invisible. I’m always convinced they’ll stab me and no one will notice. More than mildly panicked by them [flags]. I swear the fear they’ve built up over the years”.
“That the flag of your country strikes fear into your heart is so f***ing depressing, I hate that racists adopted it”.
Alongside this letter to you, we have also sent similar letters to Cumberland Council and Westmorland & Furness Council about either their problematic response (similar to the criticisms we level at the Prime Minister), or their silence. However, we are very frustrated at the approach from the government, and the Prime Minister, because we see how the direction they take trickles down into local responses. We need a stronger response, and the government needs to lead it.
Sadly, it’s become increasingly clear the Prime Minister has shunned Black and Brown voters in favour of the far-right.
We ask you:
How do you expect Black and Brown people to feel safe when the very real effect these flags and this campaign are having on them are ignored? By the Prime Minister? By the Labour Party? By you?
Why should they vote for you?
We demand to know how you will address these very real concerns and support all of those in your communities, reassuring them that you have every intention of striving towards them feeling safe?
