Raise the Colours founder charged with murder...

I admit I had to look up "Raise the Colours", as apart from realising it was to do with taking over our UK flags for the far right I didnt know much.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raise_the_Colours_(organisation)

"Raise the Colours is a British far-right group whose members attach flags to lampposts and engage in anti-migrant vigilantism. It is one of a number of organisations behind the campaign Operation Raise the Colours"

and lots more information.

No one should be surprised by this.

Looking at footage of the Tommy Robinson March, it gave real vibes of underlying violence, and all those who spoke were racist.

What a strange name , raise the colours. Harks back to the eighteenth century when people rode out on their horses to battle. Very odd.

nanna8

What a strange name , raise the colours. Harks back to the eighteenth century when people rode out on their horses to battle. Very odd.

I'm sure the name was deliberate and the idea of people riding out to battle is exactly how these people see themselves. I'm glad you noticed. Maybe you can understand why some of us object to the flag waving.

Well what a surprise! Someone else associated with far right flag wavers is a violent thug! All those jolly flags waving merrily in the breeze really represent Nationalist bully boys not cricket playing men in white flannels. Who knew?

I had never heard of the group and looked it up. Those horrible thugs masquerading as being proud of being British, well they are the opposite of that. The lot of them should be sent to Rwanda without a penny because they are not wanted here. We are too soft on these people. How has this been allowed? Lichfield is a lovely small City, I shop there regularly.
Cannot begin to think how the family of that lovely man who was killed must feel, I wish I could help in some way but know I can’t. They will live with his loss until they die.

Thanks for the info MayBee70. This is why some of us object to this version of flag displays.

I agree with Allsorts I lived in Lichfield for 20 years, my DS still does. We were in that Bar for his 50th in December.

Lichfield was always such a lovely place to live in. Hatred is spreading everywhere now.

A senseless act of violence, my thoughts are with this man’s family.

Exactly what happened? Tragic loss. How did the pub owner get involved? One man discharged from hospital.

nanna8
Colours is just the old name for a flag😃

…and no it isn’t a surprise that Billy Allison has been charged.

Ronib I think it is unwise to speculate as Billy Allison has been charged with murder and GBH other than to repeat what has been reported in the news.

"Allison, from Solihull, appeared before magistrates on Wednesday charged with the murder of Matthew O’Gara and causing grievous bodily harm with intent against a second man, Adam Cooper, following the violent incident at the Ricco and Loren bar in Lichfield on Sunday night. O’Gara later died in hospital from his injuries, while Cooper was discharged after treatment. Allison has been remanded into custody and is due before Stafford Crown Court."

It's of note that another prominent member of "raise the colours", Ryan Bridge was arrested ealier this year on suspicion of racially and religiously aggravated public order offences following incidents in Oxfordshire. Thames Valley Police confirmed the arrest as part of an investigation into allegations of harassment and intimidation.

There have also been issues in Birmingham's Stirchley area with RTC trying to stir up racial hatred. Not very nice people are they???

The individuals we are seeing on the streets and marching in protest at events like the Tommy Robinson are at present targeting “Muslims”

Next year it might be Afro-Caribbean folk, or Jews or the French -

It doesn’t matter as long as they have an identifiable group to be mad at and target.

They are characterised by racism and violence.

WWM2 I totally agree but I wonder how many people who were supportive of others joining these marches and displaying a flag will change their minds about these thugs.

were the two men not 'working class' enough for them or something? or are they using any excuse to be violent to absolutely anyone?

The irony that this Billy bloke was in a middle class bar in a middle class city. To say these violent men are confused, is an understatement really isn't it?!

Such a waste of a mans life. His poor family

Two men have too much beer, start a fight and the publican tries to stop or restrain them. The publican is hit and dies. My best guess. I would like to see hard evidence put before a judge and jury and hope that justice will prevail.

Yes hopefully justice will prevail, I think we could all agree on that.

ronib I don't think we should be using "best guesses" in this situation. In my experience, these situations are not as simple as you describe. We don't know what led up to this tragic incident but clearly, the police have sufficient evidence against this individual to charge him with two very serious offences.

Let us hope that justice does prevail.

Drove to the East Coast last Monday and, for the first time, saw a lovely avenue of trees absolutely despoiled by tatty, shredded, cheap flags hanging on lamp posts. It would cost the council a lot of money to remove these 'flags', something the perpetrators don't think of. Well, to be fair, they don't think full stop.

MayBee70

'Billy Allison, the original founder of Raise the Colours, has been charged with murder and grievous bodily harm with intent after a man was badly beaten in a bar in Lichfield on Sunday. The victim died in hospital yesterday from his injuries'.
I'm going to feel even more sickened when I drive through the next town to my son's tomorrow and see all the scruffy bedraggled flags flying everywhere. Maybe they should all be taken down as a mark of respect for the murdered man.

They should be taken down FULL STOP.

Billy Alison showing his true colours.

foxie48

WWM2 I totally agree but I wonder how many people who were supportive of others joining these marches and displaying a flag will change their minds about these thugs.

Sadly not enough! Most of their followers are of the same nasty breed!

Never heard of this group.
The flags remain Britsh.