UK Flag Raiser Arrested

[cyrille]

Great to see these toe rags finally taken off the streets.

The leader of a flag campaign group has been arrested on suspicion of causing religiously and racially aggravated harassment.

Ryan Bridge is the co-founder of Raise the Colours, which has put up hundreds of union and Saint George flags across England and attracted criticism for spreading anti-immigrant rhetoric. He was arrested on Tuesday and released on police bail the following day.

In recent days, the Raise the Colours group has posted several videos of its members erecting flags in Oxfordshire. On Monday, Oxfordshire county council issued a legal notice banning the group from putting up flags, arguing it was an “act of intimidation and division”.

In a video posted on Facebook after his release, Bridge said: “I’ve just been let out – 18-and-a-half hours for a public order section 5 causing people alarm and distress. The world’s gone mad.

“Me putting the flag up in my country is causing alarm and distress to certain members of the public. It’s an absolute disgrace … we’ve got to march on, we’ve got to fight on. We’ve got a fight on our hands.”

He said his bail conditions included a ban on visiting Oxfordshire.

Thames Valley police confirmed that a 44-year-old male from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, was arrested at about 8.40pm on Tuesday.

In a statement, the police said: “Last week, Thames Valley police launched an investigation following reports of incidents of public order offences on Abingdon Road, Oxford.

Officers are investigating those public order offences and have arrested a 44-year-old man from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, on suspicion of causing racially and religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress. He has been released on police bail.”

Oxfordshire county council issued a formal legal notice to Raise the Colours on Monday to “stop a specified activity” in response to the group’s “continued placing of flags across Oxfordshire”.

The leader of the council, the Liberal Democrat councillor Liz Leffman, said the “scale and persistence of this activity is affecting communities across Oxfordshire” and residents have reported feeling “distressed, unwelcome and unsafe”.

“The widespread installation of flags by Raise the Colours is not a sign of patriotism. It is an act of intimidation and division that is having a real and damaging impact on our communities,” Leffman said.

“Our teams removing the flags, together with residents who have challenged the individuals installing them, have been subject to abuse and threatening behaviour. This is totally unacceptable.”

The council said it would consider all options, including civil and criminal proceedings, if the group did not comply with the letter.

Raise the Colours has been contacted for comment.

UK flag-raising group leader arrested on suspicion of causing ‘alarm and distress’ | UK news | The Guardian

[taxexile]

The widespread installation of flags by Raise the Colours is not a sign of patriotism. It is an act of intimidation and division that is having a real and damaging impact on our communities,” Leffman said.

I suppose that applies to the palestinian, hamas and iranian revolutionary guard flags that are displayed too, or are some communities more important than others.

[cyrille]

His reaction said it all...'we march on!'

What an absolute plonker.

[taxexile]

Do you, as a member of the minority immigrant "community" in thailand feel threatened, racially and religiously harrassed, alarmed, distressed and intimidated by the sight of thai flags which are to be seen just about everywhere in ..... wait for it, .... thailand.



...... and if not, then why not.

[Seekingasylum]

I suppose that applies to the palestinian, hamas and iranian revolutionary guard flags that are displayed too, or are some communities more important than others.

Don't be so disingenuous Tax, you full well know the flying of the Union Jack and the Cross of St George from lampposts etc in the UK is a symbol of racist anti immigrant bigotry, and has fuck all to do with patriotism. The use of flags by brave societies fighting for justice are sincere expressions of worthy support welcomed by we decent civilised folk and not some ghastly creature from the lower end.Quite why you should wish to identify with the gutter trash is mystifying.

[Edmond]

I'm hardly a nationalist, but find it abhorrent, and quite alarming that such rules exist and are enforced in any country. Given the Brit's history from the industrial revolution to modern technology, what's wrong with showing some pride in one's nation? Some immigrant might get upset at seeing the flag of the country that they are in? [Roy Keane]Pleeeease. Do me a favour.[/Roy Keane]

[mikenot]

Do you, as a member of the minority immigrant "community" in thailand feel threatened, racially and religiously harrassed, alarmed, distressed and intimidated by the sight of thai flags which are to be seen just about everywhere in ..... wait for it, .... thailand.

...... and if not, then why not.

No, I don't....why should I ?
just imagine if they played "God save the King" every morning and evening in the UK ...wouldn't that distress some people !
OK, if these guys are spreading "anti-immigrant rhetoric" then arrest them for race hate speech or whatever but for just putting up national flags ? THAT is ridiculous.

[cyrille]

You'd have to be aware of just how many flags there are around.

Besides, they all need clearing away so they can be put up again while England win the world cup.

[kingwilly]

Quite why you should wish to identify with the gutter trash is mystifying

Not really. ‘tis very obvious. Same with his obsession with illicit homosexual activities. He’s trying to hide his inner self, but trying too hard.

[david44]

Not really. ‘tis very obvious. Same with his obsession with illicit homosexual activities. He’s trying to hide his inner self, but trying too hard.

Glad to see gaydar updates availble in beautiful downtown Loose Hakka , as you opine such fixations may be due to infrequnt pipe cleaning which can cause organs to rust up in furry frekiash way known as IBS , irritable Brit Syndrome. Pity the sole flag in public should be the United Nations , Belfast even has tribal marks on the kerbstones.

Also we humnas are not just slaughtering each other depending on which magic "voices , books the follow " but also terminally despoiing nature the Ocean the air the birds fish insects and animals .

[kingwilly]

Glad to see gaydar updates availble in beautiful downtown Loose Hakka , as you opine such fixations may be due to infrequnt pipe cleaning which can cause organs to rust up in furry frekiash way known as IBS , irritable Brit Syndrome. Pity the sole flag in public should be the United Nations , Belfast even has tribal marks on the kerbstones.

Also we humnas are not just slaughtering each other depending on which magic "voices , books the follow " but also terminally despoiing nature the Ocean the air the birds fish insects and animals .

Sometimes youre way off base, David 44. Others it’s just a stream of consciousness flow. Go easy on the absinthe.

[39TG]

I'm hardly a nationalist, but find it abhorrent, and quite alarming that such rules exist and are enforced in any country. Given the Brit's history from the industrial revolution to modern technology, what's wrong with showing some pride in one's nation? Some immigrant might get upset at seeing the flag of the country that they are in? [Roy Keane]Pleeeease. Do me a favour.[/Roy Keane]

Brits, at times, appear to enjoy fewer freedoms than those in other democracies. It's extraordinary that someone can get into trouble for flying or putting up national flags.

[Edmond]

Remember when British Airways changed their tail livery from that very impressive section of the Union Jack. Strong and powerful and British.





Then changed it Ethnic based global designs, and at the design launch Maggie T just shook her head and covered up one of the models with a handkerchief.

Just reading about it now and looks like someone may have edited Wiki

British Airways ethnic liveries - Wikipedia






She wouldn't have accepted this nonsense!

[david44]

Patriotism last refuge of the scoundrel.

[Edmond]

Patriotism last refuge of the scoundrel.

While I do agree with nationalism being an infantile and imbecilic disease, we are all humans after all. I feel being able to show one's pride at one's nation's achievements is something that shouldn't be illegal, especially because it might upset some immigrants.

[Ghost61]

Looper should be protected by TeakDoor

[Molle]

I feel being able to show one's pride at one's nation's achievements is something that shouldn't be illegal

but that's not why they are raising the flag.

[Bettyboo]

I'm more with Tax than Cyrille on this - I suspect it's likely that the fella is an unpleasant racist rabble rouser, so arrest him for doing a crime, not flying a flag - insanity. You wouldn't get arrested for putting Pakistani, Omani, Turkish, Thai flags, etc up - and constantly during demonstrations you see Hamas and Hezbollah, banned terrorist groups, symbols, singing, flags, etc, and there might be an ocassional arrest, but it's generally avoided.

Nationalism doesn't have to mean racism - it can, but when I was cheering on Lindford Christie and Daily Thomson to Olympic gold (I remember them both wrapping themselves in flags to celebrate...), I wasn't being a racist.

Did I mention that I used to train with 2 1984 Olympic 100 metre finalists back in 1985 when I was young and super speedy?

[david44]

I was young and super speedy?

I could do 100 yards in 11 seconds before the alternate pleasure and drugs and rock and roll of course i the US relay team7.8 with a flying start and sub 10 is typical today, the shoes , training and tracks are a little better than the cinders we ran on!!

PS I reckon even 100m in 24+ seconds safer than any bike in LOS take care speedy Betty

[Bettyboo]

^ That's good going, mate. 11 seconds is decent. I remember when I was 15 I was just a tad quicker than the woman's world record - a couple of years later Flo-Jo came along. I suspect she was on some heavy steroids; died very young...

[harrybarracuda]

Don't be so disingenuous Tax, you full well know the flying of the Union Jack and the Cross of St George from lampposts etc in the UK is a symbol of racist anti immigrant bigotry, and has fuck all to do with patriotism. The use of flags by brave societies fighting for justice are sincere expressions of worthy support welcomed by we decent civilised folk and not some ghastly creature from the lower end.Quite why you should wish to identify with the gutter trash is mystifying.

I don't think it's the flags per se but the indignant racism that those placing them are projecting.

They're going to have a devil of a time when the World Cup starts and every fucker thinks "it's coming home".

[taxexile]

Sometimes youre way off base, David 44. Others it’s just a stream of consciousness flow. Go easy on the absinthe.

And you need to go easy on pygmy jizz.

[taxexile]

The geezer in charge of putting up the flags is an unpleasant chap by all accounts, but arresting him and charging him is rather petty and even starmer flies the flag when making speeches at no.10, and i dont think any swarthies have complained to the police about that yet.