Raise the Colours Sheffield (RTCS) is the local variant of a national campaign which launched last summer. The campaign sought to appropriate our flags as symbols of anti-migrant sentiment, primarily by attaching cheap St George’s Crosses and Union Jacks to lampposts, or crudely painting mini roundabouts. For many the novelty wore off fairly quickly, but in some areas this simple act has become a galvanising force for racist activism more broadly.
RTCS is a classic example of this; united by a fear of migrants and an interest in far-right politics, a small group of friends began decorating street furniture, mainly in the north of the city around Parson Cross and Southey Green. Sustained by “donations” from some of their more sedentary neighbours, the group set about flagging streets by request – provided the cash had been received upfront. The occasional pro-Trump flag was added to the mix, just to make their noble stance on the protection of women and girls extra clear, while fear-mongering “Save the Children” flags were raised around local schools.
There's gold in them thar flags!
As the flags spread, the group’s Facebook page also rose in prominence, a place for like-minded racists to spew bile about ethnic minorities and “the Left”. The page administrators claim they can’t be held responsible for posts by the wider membership, but any mild criticism of RTCS’s aims or methods leads to a rapid expulsion. On the other hand, overt antisemitism, racism, and bigotry is largely applauded.
An average day on the RTCS Facebook page
In April RTCS sought to expand its remit and teamed up with Grimsby-based fascist propagandist Ryan Dales (also known as Youtuber, Ryan Rampage) to organise a protest at Sheffield train station. The vast majority of the 100 or so attendees were bused in from around the country and were heavily outnumbered by local antifascists who came out to counter RTCS's message of hate and division. Despite the evident opposition within Sheffield, Lee Shipley (the de-facto leader of RTCS) doubled down and announced a march from Sheffield Peace Gardens to refugee accommodation on Blonk St on Saturday 13th June. This hotel has been repeatedly targeted, and its residents harassed, including by UKIP last October in a march attended by several RTCS admins.
While unlikely to lead to widespread race riots like those of 2024, we have seen what happens when fascists are not robustly opposed. The tactic of ignoring or appeasing this angry minority has only emboldened them to the point that they think they can intimidate and attack people in their homes. The vast majority of Sheffield residents reject the racist lies spread by RTCS and their ilk, and we need to remind them of this fact on 13th June.
Oppose the Hate March
11.30am Saturday 13th June, Central Sheffield
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