Racial slurs have been levelled at children, international students told to speak English and LGBTQ people abused as flags have spread an oppressive atmosphere across York, councillors have heard.
People who spoke at City of York Council’s full meeting on Thursday called for action as concerns grow about the fallout from national flags put up around the city.
The heads of the council’s ruling Labour and opposition Liberal Democrat and Conservative groups all condemned what the authority’s Leader Cllr Claire Douglas said was the sinister side of flag flying.
Flag Force, one of the groups behind the spate of flags being put up in York and elsewhere, declined to comment.
The comments come after flags have been attached to lamp posts in York and cities across the country since mid-August.
Flag Force’s campaign has come alongside similar initiatives including from Operation Raise the Colours.
Those behind the moves have said they aim to foster community spirit and bring people together, with money raised for charities and volunteers taking part in activities such as litter-picking.
But it has since been followed by red crosses being painted on roundabouts, crossings and other road markings and racist graffiti including on Foxwood Lane’s Dragon House Chinese takeaway.
Council leader Cllr Claire Douglas said on Thursday contractors and staff had been verbally abused and harrassed while removing the flags as part of clean-up efforts costing £250,000.
She added parish councillors and residents standing up to flag fliers had been threatened with having their personal details published in response.
A 54-year-old man has also been arrested in connection with a St George’s flag hung from the city walls near Walmgate.
The man has since been bailed as North Yorkshire Police’s investigation into the incident continues.
The message is understood to have been directed at York Central MP Rachael Maskell who previously called for flags to be removed after being contacted by hundreds of upset residents.
‘Leaving the city early’
PhD student Isabella Langdon told councillors said York risked going down a dark road if behaviour seen in the wake of flags going up is allowed to continue.
The student said: “I’ve spoken to residents and businesses and heard stories about children being chased by grown men screaming racial slurs and of people being accused of being illegal immigrants in the street in broad daylight.
“International students have been leaving the city centre early during Freshers’ Week because they don’t want to go home in the dark and others have been challenged in town and told to speak English.
“This is real and it’s what’s happening in our city right now.”
Teacher and Green Party activist Michael Kearney told councillors homophobic and transphobic abuse was also surging.
Mr Kearney said: “We’re witnessing the vigilantism of fringe groups erecting flags across our city.
“It may seem harmless to some but they’re not about pride in our community, they’re a dog whistle for hate against marginalised and LGBT people.
“When this is allowed to spread unchallenged it sends a message that intolerance is welcome in York.
“Any LGBT person will share stories of avoiding York city centre, hiding their identities or having abuse levelled at them.”
Ryan Wilson, a resident of York for five years, said people he spoke to felt frightened, threatened and embarrassed by the misuse of the the union and St George’s flags.
Mr Wilson said: “One particularly notable event was a French restaurant saying it was hesitant to fly the French flag because they feared reprisal.
“An oppressive atmosphere has been created in our city, this doesn’t represent who we are.
“We’ve receded into ourselves leaving our desire for community unfulfilled, the effort to raise flags has built links and a sense of purpose amongst some, we should reach out to build new positive links in our communities.”
‘Low point in our history’
Cllr Douglas called on all councillors should stand together in showing that York was turning its back on such behaviour and said it must stop.
Cllr Nigel Ayre, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition, said the racism and vile language seen following the flag displays was a low point in York’s history.
Conservative group leader Cllr Chris Steward said he believed there was nothing racist about national flags themselves but they had been misused, adding not all of them should be removed.
Speaking previously to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Flag Force co-founder Joseph Moulton said racist incidents were deplorable but claims of intimidation were anecdotal.
A Flag Force spokesperson previously said people were sick of being accused of being racist for wanting to fly their countries’ flags in their own city.
