Rise in racism Why it’s time to remove flags on posts

Last week, Bristol City Council decided to gradually, remove flags put on lampposts around the city, after a petition signed by thousands of residents was submitted to City Hall.

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Union flags on lampposts have caused division and made some people feel unsafe, says Cllr Ellie Freeman, right

Here, Green Bedminster councillor Ellie Freeman gives her view...THE flags in Bedminster ward have dominated my ward work since they first went up on September 9. Immediately, people associated them with Operation Raise the Colours, a campaign about patriotism led by Tommy Robinson, and they felt very strongly that having a flag on their street did not represent their own views. Beyond that some people felt that the flags represented racism and even fascism.

My initial reaction was to push for them to be taken down. Some flags were along the airport bus route and on West Street, a high street made up of businesses run by people from many different cultures and ethnicities. I was proud to see the community react by putting up notices and ‘Loveable Neighbourhood Care bears} pictured inset, with messages of welcome, sanctuary and inclusion.