A huge march against the Far Right

So presumably if people are intimidated by the union jack ( by the way when I see it flown lately I mostly think this is a very deprived area and the people in this area are why I used to be a member of the labour party) then they can understand why some people might have been intimidated by a March where Palestine, trans flags etc were flown.

Maremia

That is a beautiful post, valdavi. I have read it a few times.
Yes, that's for me.

Agreed. It's for me, too.

And for pretty much everyone I know, and 100% of the people I choose to mix with. We may be naive, Pollyanna types, but we are the majority in the UK, I'm sure.

I would like there to be a flag of Tolerance. Not related to a land mass or borders. Not connected to citizenship or 'right to remain'. Nothing to do with politics, skin tone or religion. Just a belief in equality and a desire to live and let live.

I would happily march under that flag, and live where people hung it from lampposts.

Yes Allira, we have had this conversation before. Bunting is celebratory.
Bunting can enhance, where flags may intimidate.

That is a beautiful post, valdavi. I have read it a few times.
Yes, that's for me.

The flags didn't even look good. It was a grey, wet day and the flags were torn, bedraggled and dirty. They looked like the rubbish left over after a pop festival. How on earth does a site like that make anybody feel pride in their country?

That is precisely why it needs to be reclaimed.

Flown on public buildings, on occasions of national importance and perhaps, if people want to celebrate Jubilees etc, some bunting might be allowed without people accusing others of being extremists?

I have been to funerals of service personnel where the Union flag has been draped on the coffins, sometimes along with the White Ensign. One was of a local Labour Mayor.

Cossy, I think we're joined at the hip!

Nearly everyone I know personally in real life also feels the same way.

I think we put up with a lot. We Brits tend not to make a fuss, even when issues affect us personally. However, enough is enough.

A few months ago, I had to go to a town which was festooned with UJ and England flags. It really intimidated me. I hated knowing that I was in a place full of people with values I abhor.

The flags didn't even look good. It was a grey, wet day and the flags were torn, bedraggled and dirty. They looked like the rubbish left over after a pop festival. How on earth does a site like that make anybody feel pride in their country?

It's time people who feel the same as us fight back, even if we're not natural fighters.

I’m not ashamed of our flag, I’ve never flown it or carried it, except once I did have a little paper flag for a Eurovision Party I hosted!

I’m ashamed of what it is being used for by the likes of Yaxley.

I’m not ashamed of being a British Citizen, in fact I’m often grateful, but I’m sometimes ashamed of my fellow human beings attitude towards other human beings.

This doesn’t mean hate this country? Or that I hate any other country, there are people I despise, like Trump, Yaxley, Trump, Putin and Netanyahu, but I don’t “hate” the countries from which they come. Nor their flags

MG55 15.13: ' Great posts LemonJam and Cossy. Thank you 💐

Thank you MG55 💐💐

Yesterday's event has been in the planning for months. You can see here who marched in the different blocs

Oh, ok, fair enough.

Just a pity it coincided with the specific anti-Trump marches but the aim was the same.

Graphite

^Fine, but wrong day.^

Together Alliance was founded on 2 December 2025 to stand against the rise of the far right in the UK. The date for yesterday’s march was set then. I know because I am a member of the Musicians’ Union which is a member of the alliance.

Our slogan for yesterday was No Fascists on the Set List.

There was a London music launch at EartH (Evolutionary Arts) in Hackney on 10 February 2026.

Yesterday's event has been in the planning for months. You can see here who marched in the different blocs:

www.togetheralliance.org.uk/blocs#block-bab21d17-bbda-482a-a35b-beb362f5d056

Thank you 🙂🙂🥀

Fine, but wrong day.

Together Alliance was founded on 2 December 2025 to stand against the rise of the far right in the UK. The date for yesterday’s march was set then. I know because I am a member of the Musicians’ Union which is a member of the alliance.

Our slogan for yesterday was No Fascists on the Set List.

There was a London music launch at EartH (Evolutionary Arts) in Hackney on 10 February 2026.

Yesterday's event has been in the planning for months. You can see here who marched in the different blocs:

www.togetheralliance.org.uk/blocs#block-bab21d17-bbda-482a-a35b-beb362f5d056

Oreo

It won’t happen in your lifetime btw as it hasn’t happened in the last thousands of years.Why would it suddenly become a planet of sweetness and light?

It's a planet of many persuasions.

Among them are the grans (count me in) who see a way forward for our country that doesn't involve manufactured hate, extreme nationisticism, pouring scorn on anyone who doesn't toe the line.

It's a beautiful planet & we live in a beautiful part of that planet, & there are very many decent, tolerably happy & settled people who live here quite contentedly despite all dire warnings.

Tommy Robinson- claimed 3 million attended his protest- police estimated more like 110,000.

Together Alliance claimed 500,000 attended their protest yesterday- police estimated more likely 50,000 but admitted difficult judge the number due to widespread nature of the crowd and other additional organisations/ protests joining in.

Tommy Robinson's protest photos proliferation of Union Jack and St Georges flags. Reform UK and TR as part of its anti immigration, nationalist rhetoric actively promote display of the Union flag and St George's Cross in protests and public places. This has raised controversy. Trump does the same in MAGA rallies for same reason.

Yesterday's march was purposely anti immigrant, anti far right riposte protest. Probably trying to distance from controversy hence anti immigrant, anti hate designed flags intentionally?

It was also an opportunity to join with others across the US and Europe to demonstrate against Trump and his actions but it seems the London protest was demonstrating against the far-right here. Fine, but wrong day.

Solidarity with other nations would have made the point.

It won’t happen in your lifetime btw as it hasn’t happened in the last thousands of years.Why would it suddenly become a planet of sweetness and light?

BlueBelle nobody owns a thread it runs where it will and if you only want to be with others who share your own views then that isn’t a public forum.

This has been deleted as it quotes a deleted post.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

…and every other country in the world that regularly flies their own flag?

Allira

Oreo

Or is it ok for everyone else but not the UK?

I don't understand why some don't understand.

Shame?
Being ashamed of one's national flag?

🤬 Robinson. Tell him it doesn't belong to him.

I'm not ashamed of the Union Jack. I just don't understand the need to wave it and I don't understand why people don't understand that. Can't they just accept that many are happy to be British - even proud if the country does something well - but don't feel the need to fly a piece of cloth to remind people where they are.

Oreo

So are all the flags flown in every other country mere jingoism?

Flags are more than pieces of cloth. They have different meanings for various groups.

Norwegians, for example, fly their flags because Norway didn't become fully independent until 1905. They are celebrating independence from Sweden as much as anything.

Oreo

Or is it ok for everyone else but not the UK?

I don't understand why some don't understand.

Shame?
Being ashamed of one's national flag?

🤬 Robinson. Tell him it doesn't belong to him.

Just asking for a friend😁

and when they start taking over the Union Jack too - which they are doing - how can anyone find it surprising that for now people choose not to carry it?

I find it disturbing and very sad.

Or is it ok for everyone else but not the UK?