A senior lecturer has branded the appearance of flags outside York St John University today as ‘particularly depressing’.
The Union flags have been added to lampposts on Lord Mayor’s Walk and Clarence Street, within feet of the entrance to the university.
It shows that the flaggers remain active, even as City of York Council starts to take them down.
Earlier this month, York St John was one of four city colleges to issue a joint statement condeming “harassment, hate and discrimination”, after a rise in racism following the start of the flagging campaign.
The senior lecturer gave their reaction to the appearance of the flags to YorkMix: “Staff are shocked and there is a sense that we have been targeted and are being targeted after the statement last week.
“It is particularly depressing as this is welcome week when we have thousands of young people arriving onto the campus.
“Many of these are international students and lots of others are away from home for the first time. This isn’t helpful for anyone.”
We have asked the university for an official response.
York St John joined with Askham Bryan College, York College and the University of York to issue a statement alongside one by council leader Claire Douglas last Friday.
The colleges wrote: “We recognise the pride that many feel in their city and country, and we honour that pride through our commitment to openness and mutual respect.
“However, we are also deeply concerned by unacceptable incidents of harassment, racist incidents and intimidation in recent weeks. This behaviour has no place in our communities, our campuses, or our city.
“Harassment, hate and discrimination will not be tolerated.”
