“Hello, refugee”: racist attack in York after weeks of far-right flagging

A student was racially assaulted on University of York campus on Thursday, reports claim. York has been an epicentre of a far-right flag-hanging campaign in recent weeks.

York Press reported that the man is a Hong Kong national in his 30s who came to the city to study. Police say they are investigating the potential hate crime.

The Press reported that the unnamed victim:

had recently graduated and was on campus to apply for an alumni library visitor card when he saw two men who started shouting at him and making racist gestures.

He claimed one of the men said, ‘Hello refugee’ to him.

The victim said:

I tried to talk with them and say I’m not a refugee, I’m a student; I contribute to this city.

The victim’s glasses were also thrown into the lake on campus. He was left badly bruised with a swollen eye.

Fascist organising in York

The victim said:

I have never experienced such a thing in the last two years. I feel quite upset.

It’s really upsetting because York is a safe city and we love it. That’s the reason I picked York to study.

British and English flags have been hung across the country as part of the far-right ‘Raise the Colours’ campaign. Roundabouts have also been painted in George Cross colours.

Despite claims to the contrary by some participants, the Raise the Colours campaigns is organised by the far-right.

Liberal anti-fascist watchdog Hope not Hate (HnH) have investigated the links between the flag movement and violent associates of small fascist Tommy Robinson AKA Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

Organised by the far-right

In a recent report, HnH say:

that the co-founder and organiser of the group is longtime Stephen Lennon (AKA Tommy Robinson) ally Andrew Currien (AKA Andy Saxon). Formerly a key member of the English Defence League’s leadership bodyguard team, and now running security for the far-right party Britain First, Currien has previously been jailed for his part in a racist death. He was one of six men convicted in 2009 after a 59-year-old man was crushed to death by a car following a violent brawl.

The same report details how a number of other fascist and far-right organisations and individuals have organised and funded the operation. This includes far-right football hooligan firms and the Britain First political party.

HnH added:

It’s also true that not everyone who has raised a flag is far right. But the fact that much of this wave of activism is being organised by well-known racists and extremists does raise questions about the motivations behind much of Operation Raise the Colours.

Black Romans in York

York’s black history dates back around 2,000 years to when the famed Ivory Bangle Woman, a high status individual of African origin, lived in the old Roman city. Her background was discovered after testing of her teeth in 2010.

According to York Museums trust:

The archaeological analysis that led to this conclusion also tested many other skeletons and this research suggests that a sizable minority of Roman York’s population, perhaps around 10%, had connections to areas beyond Europe. 

By comparison, the English and British flags are recent inventions. Yet somehow, it’s anyone who’s not white that are the problem in York.

Featured image via the Canary