In Manchester and beyond creative responses to the unwelcome message of ‘raise the colours’ are appearing
‘Scary’ and ‘I loved it’: the ‘unite the kingdom’ march
Artists in Britain have customised St George’s flags with messages celebrating diversity, in response to a campaign in which national banners have been flown from lamp-posts, outside homes and painted on roundabouts.
While for many, flying the flag is a genuine expression of national pride, some flags have been graffitied on businesses and places of worship belonging to minority ethnic Britons, in some cases with slurs, after the launch of the operation “raise the colours”.
The artists’ response will go on display in venues and in the streets later this month. The project originates in Greater Manchester, where hard-right groups have joined protests outside asylum hotels, posting locations where they have “deployed British flags” on social media.
