Another Facebook livestream from Ryan Bridge, leader of the West Midlands group Raise the Colours, has once again made its way onto my work feeds. This group, under the guise of patriotism, is plastering Birmingham with Union flags and the Cross of St George—often without any permission—while peddling a simplistic, exclusionary worldview.
Bridge frequently tours the city with his crew, proudly displaying his own merchandise as he plants flags in neighborhoods like Stirchley, one of his favorite hotspots. He openly taunts locals who object, dismissing their concerns as the whining of ‘lefties’ and ‘woke’ individuals.
However, the flags aren’t just decorative; they have become a symbol of division. Healthcare workers and residents alike describe feeling intimidated driving through areas lined with these flags. Some residents have faced verbal abuse and harassment simply for speaking out. One woman was even called a ‘traitor’ outside her own home.
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These flags, while nationally recognized symbols flown during moments of pride, have been co-opted by Bridge and his allies to mark who belongs—and who doesn’t—in our city. This campaign carries a darker undercurrent, touching on racist and Islamophobic sentiments.
Salma from Moseley voices what many feel: “They claim it’s patriotic, but what I see is division, not inclusion. Most Brummies are kind and welcoming—we don’t want hatefulness taking over our home.”
Josie from Cotteridge adds bluntly, “I live here and I’m sick of this. They keep coming back, putting the same flag outside my house again and again.”
Laurence from Stirchley highlights the pattern: flags going up without local consent, backed by hostility towards anyone who protests.
It’s clear these campaigns are about more than pride; they are instruments of intimidation. One resident put it plainly: “Don’t dress this up as pride—this is about sending a message of exclusion and fear.”
For many, the presence of these flags turns what should be a routine trip to the shops into a tense experience. “It’s wrong to use my flag to make me feel unwelcome,” another resident shared.
The time has come for Birmingham’s council, police, and community leaders to step up and assert that our city belongs to all of us. We must stop the unchecked spread of politically motivated flagging that threatens unity and sows division.