Men hanging up St George’s flag on lamppost confronted by neighbour | UK | News
St George’s flag has been a hot topic of conversation for some time (Image: SWNS)
A man who recorded an incident in which he was confronted by other men displaying St George’s flags outside his home said he was subjected to horrific abuse online. Adam Willett, 35, saw a group of men hanging flags outside his home in Braintree, Essex, on Sunday, April 19, when he asked them to stop. The tattoo artist recorded the encounter in which he asked the men to stop.
He has since clarified that he believed the men had “ulterior motives” rather than pride in their country. The footage went viral online, garnering close to 1.5 million views across social media platforms. Willett, who said that he has received threatening messages on the internet since then, said that one person told him that his pregnant partner should be raped by an immigrant. There is no allegation that the man who hung the flags was linked to abusive messages on social media.
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Willett said he stuck his head out the window during the encounter and politely asked the men not to hang the flag outside his home. When he went outside and used a ladder to raise the flag, he said, several of the men began filming after he stopped.
“I was trying to ask them a few questions about why they were doing this, but they didn’t really have an answer,” he said.
“They just said they loved the flag. I don’t mean any ill will to these people, but it’s telling that they don’t have an answer. “There are a lot of people who have real concerns about immigration, but they’re being undermined by people with ulterior motives.
“The timing of everything is appropriate, they are very careful with their words, and a lot of people are divided on this issue. Braintree is a predominantly white area, but there are people of different races and different sexualities, and in my work I hear how people are affected.”
Man confronts men hoisting St George flag on lamppost outside his home (Image: Adam Willett / SWNS)
The St George flag became a hot topic of debate last year as it was used in demonstrations over immigration and asylum seekers in the UK.
The man went on to describe the nature of the messages he received online as a result of the video. “They will claim that flying the flag is about unity and patriotism, but I don’t know who is united here,” he said.
“I was called a traitor, homophobic slurs, told I should be hanged, that my pregnant partner should be raped by a gang of immigrants.”
She added: “A fake review left at my business complained that I had tattooed her 19-year-old daughter and touched her inappropriately. When you’re part of a movement claiming equality and safety for women and say you want to protect your daughters, it’s pretty despicable to make something up like that.”
However, some people supported him. “People came into my store to say thank you,” he said. “People use the fact that people died for our country as an argument for flags.
“But the number of veterans and women who have come out to support me is staggering.”
He has since contacted Essex Police about some messages he has received online. Essex Police confirmed they had received a report and investigations were ongoing.
Willett also started an online petition calling on Essex Highways and Essex County Council to “remove flags illegally displayed from public property”.
