Shrewsbury flags row: Groups issue 'urgent' call for public meeting over controversial town centre marches
The town’s MP has offered to host talks
Anti-racism campaigners in Shrewsbury are calling on the town’s civic leaders to set up a public meeting after controversial marches rocked the town.
The protests, organised by Raise the Flags Shrewsbury Plus, have led to multiple reports of racist abuse on the streets of the county town, as well as concerns from traders that their businesses are being negatively impacted.
Raise the Flags Shrewsbury Plus has announced a follow-up march through the town centre on Saturday, August 22, during the peak tourism season.
The group has publicly called on football fans attending the Shrewsbury Town v Barnet League Two match that afternoon to join the march, and has promised to provide a shuttle service from the town centre to the Croud Meadow stadium afterwards to boost numbers.
Shrewsbury Against the Far Right – a coalition of community groups and trade unions that includes Stand Up To Racism Shropshire & Telford, the Midlands branch of the PCS Union, NEU Shropshire and others – is requesting an open public meeting with civic leaders so that business owners and residents can voice their concerns about the ongoing impact on the town.
A spokesperson for Shrewsbury Against the Far Right said: “We are calling for an urgent public meeting to discuss what’s happening.
“The march on July 4 was marred by incidents of racial abuse.
“There were shouts of ‘black lives don’t matter’, aggression, ‘sieg heil’ Nazi salutes, the illegal use of smoke grenades, and men exposing themselves in the Quarry park.
“All of this happened on a Saturday when the Quarry was packed with families, young children, and tourists.
“Seeing blatant Nazi salutes and hearing racist language in our town – especially on one of the busiest Saturdays of the year – was shocking.
“We have heard from town centre traders that there was a noticeable impact on footfall.
“Meanwhile, several town centre community events – including one that had been planned for nearly a year – were cancelled over concerns for public safety, public liability insurance issues, and fears from participants about racist abuse. This situation can’t continue.”
They have also said it is feared town centre businesses could close if Raise The Flags protests impact trade once a month on Saturdays, the busiest shopping day of the week.
With plans for more marches now in place, including on August 22 and beyond, Shrewsbury Against the Far Right is calling on civic leaders to reassure the community that racist abuse and aggression won’t be tolerated on future marches. Among those joining the call for a public meeting with civic leaders is the Public & Commercial Services (PCS) Union.
Mike Veric of the PCS Union said: “PCS believe in the right to peaceful protest in a democratic society, but what we’ve witnessed during the two most recent marches in Shrewsbury is deeply troubling.
“Seeing these far-right marchers, and hearing them chant vile racist, homophobic, transphobic, and disablist language whilst meandering through the town is abhorrent, extremely divisive, and should not be tolerated in a modern democratic society.
“We need our civic leaders to reassure residents that this situation is under control by holding an urgent open public meeting.”
Shrewsbury MP Julia Buckley said: “My top priority is keeping residents, businesses and visitors safe. So I remain in continued liaison with the local police and counter terrorism unit.
“My response to this invitation is to start by offering to host a meeting with the stakeholders, police and Churches Together.”
A Shrewsbury Town Council spokesperson said: “We recognise these groups have a right to protest.
“We are in regular contact with Shropshire Council and West Mercia Police about how we can mitigate the potential impact these protests can cause on events and businesses around the town.”
Shropshire Council has been contacted for comment.
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