Thousands of St. George’s and Union Jack flags have been raised across towns in Britain under a campaign called Operation Raise the Colours,
St George’s crosses have also appeared painted on roundabouts!
Despite some pushback from some local residents, who describe it as unsettling and divisive, the movement is widely seen as a public display of patriotism and defiance of the government’s migration policies.
RT reports: The campaign, which began in Birmingham and East London, has spread to Manchester, Bradford, Newcastle, Norwich, Worcester, Redditch, and York. Patriotic images have been painted on streets, while Scottish and Irish colors have also been seen.
While activists describe the displays as an expression of national pride, others have raised concerns because the campaign has received backing from right-wing organizations. The BBC reported that some residents found the flags “intimidating” and provocative at a time of high tensions over migration. Some residents in Birmingham denounced the stunts as “wanton vandalism” and “an excuse for xenophobia
The push to hoist the national flag has also met some resistance from local officials. Councils in Birmingham and Tower Hamlets have taken down some flags, citing safety concerns.
Birmingham’s Labour council said that attachments on lamp posts can be “dangerous” to pedestrians and motorists, while Tower Hamlets Council attributed its removal of flags to “routine maintenance.” Critics, however, have pointed out that in many cases Palestinian flags have not been subject to the same treatment.
Reform UK MP Lee Anderson called the policy of removing flags “nothing short of a disgrace and shows utter contempt for the British people.”
In recent months, the UK has seen increasing public protests against soaring migration. Organizers have described the rallies not as far-right actions but as efforts to challenge what they call a malfunctioning government system.