A group that erects Union and St George’s flags in towns and cities across England has claimed its members were physically attacked during an operation in Oxford, as local residents and politicians condemned the demonstration as unwelcome and disruptive.
The incident took place at around 5pm on 24 March on Abingdon Road in the Grandpont area of the city, during rush hour. Members of the Raise the Colours group used a cherry-picker van marked as a highways maintenance vehicle to attach flags to lampposts on both sides of the busy road, causing traffic obstruction in the process.
Ryan Bridge, one of the group’s co-founders, who broadcast the operation live on social media, told GB News that members were subjected to both verbal and physical abuse on four separate occasions during the evening. He claimed he was punched, kicked and struck with a bicycle, and that those involved were called racists, nazis and fascists throughout the night. Mr Bridge said he believed the group’s intention had been to promote patriotism and unity, adding that Oxfordshire council had previously removed flags from lampposts at a cost of £51 per post.
He commended police for intervening to keep what he described as a hostile crowd at a distance, while stating that the level of abuse directed at the group was “an absolute disgrace.”
However, accounts from local residents painted a contrasting picture. A woman employed at the University of Oxford, who asked not to be named, told local outlet This is Oxfordshire that she was verbally abused and filmed aggressively after questioning whether the group had permission to erect flags on a public road. She said a member of the group mocked her Italian accent and became threatening when she raised concerns.
South Oxford resident Lucy said the group had harassed and intimidated people in the area, and that women and people of colour in the neighbourhood had expressed fear about its presence.
Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds said that while individuals had every right to display national flags at their own homes, this situation was different in nature. She noted that those involved appeared to be from outside the neighbourhood, said reports of abusive conduct would need to be investigated, and described the activity as “the opposite of activity to bring our community together.”
Labour councillor Anna Railton, representing Hinksey Park ward, accused the group of verbally abusing residents, impersonating highways officials and attaching flags to property they did not own. She also expressed disappointment at what she described as an inadequate initial police response.
An open letter published by a local campaign group called Grandpont Welcomes stated that residents were “horrified” not by the flags themselves but by what they described as the intention and underlying hostility behind their placement.
Oxfordshire County Council confirmed it was aware of the incident and warned that flags positioned near roads could pose safety risks, adding that it would work with Thames Valley Police to share evidence for potential further action. GB News has approached Thames Valley Police for comment.
Mr Bridge denied the allegations made against the group, saying Raise the Colours had received support from individuals of various European backgrounds and thousands of messages from people across the country. He said many supporters felt unheard amid what he described as frustration over illegal migration.
The group has also recently attended events in Kingstanding in Birmingham and Walsall, and was present at the sentencing of Ahmad Mulakhil — an Afghan asylum seeker convicted of abducting and raping a 12-year-old girl — where it erected a flag in support of women and children.
Source: GB News
