Hundreds of England and Union Jack flags have appeared on lampposts across York over the last month. Student areas Tang Hall, Foss Islands and Field Lane have been notable hotspots.
York SU have raised concerns in an open letter to the University of York and local politicians that “with anti-migrant and racist rhetoric at an all-time high… such expressions of nationalism may inflame tensions in our communities.”
Several students contacted the Union stating that they feel intimidated by the flags. York Vision spoke to an anonymous student who said: “Nobody is taking issue with the British flag, the issue is when they have been hung to intimidate minorities.”
The Union wants to “reiterate that the University of York, and the city of York are safe spaces filled with diversity and multiculturalism”.
As a direct response to the campaigns, they have nominated Refugee Action York (RAY) as their Semester One charity partner. The charity works with local refugees and aims to destigmatise preconceptions of asylum seekers. York SU is also committed to establishing a Student Equity Collective to support students from marginalised communities.
Flag Force UK have contacted the University of York hoping to supply flags for permanent use or on key dates. They state that their aim is to “celebrate shared history and identity”. The Union have appealed to the University not to allow external flag-campaigns on campus and instead “support a student-focused campaign which displays flags from all around the world on campus, to recognise and protect the diverse community we have here at the University of York.”
Flag Force UK’s co-founder Joseph Moulton also runs York Flaggers and Litter Pickers who stated on facebook that “overseas students don’t need a flag”.
The York Flaggers and Litter Pickers group, at the forefront of the local movement, claim that their intention is to strengthen the local community and celebrate shared identity. They have raised over £15,000 on a GoFundMe that states “All donations go directly towards flags, poles, and cable ties.”
Speaking to GB News, Moulton claimed “The establishment isn’t appealing to people.” He encouraged campaigners to build community through attending their litter picking events and donating to food banks.
This tension follows a racist attack on campus and the vandalism of Dragon House Chinese Takeaway on Foxwood Road which was defaced with racist graffiti. Spray-painted red crosses sat alongside vile phrases like “cat n dog” and “go home”.
The local communities rallied to clean up the shopfront including Isaac Davidson from Crystal Clean Windows. Speaking to the York Press, Dragon House expressed that they were “deeply moved by the amount of support and kindness shown to us from the community after this incident.”
The York Flaggers and Litter Pickers group have denounced the incident and were involved in the clean up effort.
When asked by YorkMix whether the campaign would incorporate Pride Flags, Moulton said the national and Union flags are “a unifying symbol of everybody in the country” and there are “other symbols which divide people. I think the Pride flag is certainly one of them.”