Unity over Division Love over Hate – Moseley stands up to bullies.

On Wednesday 4th February a group called Raise the Colours descended on Moseley Village and fixed Union and National flags to 19 lamp posts in Alcester Road and St Mary’s Row.

Izzy went out and spoke to the group at the time, asked them to take the flags down and told them they were committing an offence under S132 Highways Act 1980.

Despite that they continued to put up flags through the village even though it was clear from the reception they were getting that the community did not welcome them here.

Later the same evening Izzy emailed the Cabinet member for Community Safety,Social Justice and Equalities, Cllr Tennant, the Director for Community Safety and the local Police Superintendent asking for the flags to be taken down as soon as possible and for some firm action to be taken, either a summons to court or an injunction.

Raise the Colours are not being patriotic, they are upsetting and frightening many people, causing division amongst communities, wasting police time and adding unnecessary cost to a council that is already struggling with managing its finances.

On Friday 6th February Izzy & Philip received confirmation from both the council and the police that they would support each other to facilitate the removal of the flags put up without permission on public lamp posts. They could not give us a timeline but assured us it was being treated as urgent.

On Saturday 7th February a community event was held, which Izzy attended and almost half of the flags were removed by local residents.

We would like to reassure the many residents who have contacted us about this that our’s and others representations are being taken very seriously.

We already have a flag for Birmingham. It’s the Birmingham Community flag celebrating our rich heritage as a city of a thousand trades, built on migration and welcoming to all.

Bullying tactics are not welcome here. If people have differences we talk and respect each other. We have so much more to unite us than to divide us.