Shirley dad branded racist over Union Jack flag on his shed
EXCLUSIVE By Anna Edwards
anna.edwards@essnmedia.co.uk
A dad has been branded a racist – simply for hoisting a Union Jack flag from his shed.
After displaying his patriotism Steve Coe – whose wife is black – received an anonymous letter through the letterbox of his home in Tideswell Road, Shirley.
It accused him of being in the BNP and National Front.
The angry letter appears to have been sent by a neighbour, who writes: "If you want to look at the flag put it inside your own home, don't subject it to others, many find it intrusive and your motives questionable."
Mr Coe, 46, is an avid collector of British memorabilia and says the flag, which has been flying for the last two weeks, is merely showing his love of all things British.
He said: "I've got this letter asking me what my motives are for putting up this flag, and am I a member of the BNP or National Front?
"I'm just a patriotic chap, this letter is awful, really nasty.
"People shouldn't feel worried about being proud of their country, this is a symbol of our country, how is it racist to have a British flag on your shed?"
Mr Coe has been reassured by Croydon Council that there is nothing wrong with him putting up his flag.
And he says he is willing to meet with whoever has sent him the letter, to show them he isn't the slightest bit racist.
He added: "It's very petty, they've obviously got nothing better to do.
"Why weren't they mature about it and come and speak to me? It's cowardly to do it like this.
"I've shown the letter to my neighbours and friends, they are all disgusted.
"Everyone I've spoken to, regardless of their creed or colour, has got behind me and condemned it, it's totally unacceptable."
His wife, Jocie, finds the letter's suggestion that there are sinister motives behind the flag particularly laughable – as her family hails from the West Indies.
Mrs Coe, said: "We're not interfering with anyone else, I don't know why someone should be so offended.
"I think you have to let people live, writing stuff like this is a bit poisonous.
"My family come from the West Indies, so the idea my husband is a BNP member is ridiculous.
"Maybe they think I'm a servant because they've seen me hanging the washing out!"
27 Comments
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by lloyd, N.Addington
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 5:20PM
“Was in the United States a few years ago and the first thing you see is the stars & stripes flag on more or less every building. And every shop on their side walks has 5+ flags on them and they fly it with pride as this country should do . I find it all like a small storm in a tea cup what people find offensive these days, and when you think about it, you ,ll see every other national flag on car windows, number plates,etc . I use the Euro plate on mine, only because we drive in Europe alot and it beats buying a GB sticker every Journey, not that I would buy the Euro plate for the hell of it . I find it insulting the fact that people want to jump on this wagon about the union flag eevery time. PS: Can,t wait for the world cup finals”
by epiphany, dorlking
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 4:45PM
“There seems to be a distinct lack of patriotism in this country. Anyone objecting to a flying Union Flag has no place in this country.”
by Enoch, Croydon
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 4:12PM
“P Dent of Croydon -
Sorry to have to correct you but as a serving member of RN, A Union Flag is not automatically called a Union Jack when flown on a ship, it is only a Union Jack when hoisted on the Jack Staff of a RN Ship, as is a Ensign when it is hoisted on the Ensign Staff. Now call me Anne Giles.
P.S Would there have been all this bother is this gentlemans good wife had flown the flag of her birth country outside their house. Good on you both for making a stand.”
by L, Sanderstead
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 11:13AM
“Maybe too many people are laughing these things off and ignoring them, i agree that he should make it public, it is just a letter to him about a flag, but i think there are too many times that people are being discriminated for being proud of Britain its getting silly, Yet we dont do anything about it, it has taken just that one person to speak up and there are now 23 comments regarding this, it just shows you how many people feel the same.
I think we should make more of a thing out of St Georges day cos half of us people do not celebrate it, and you hear stories of people who do put flags up being racist... what is this country coming too.”
by RPB, Coulsdon
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 10:35AM
“22 comments on this "story"? Really?
The letter was from a single, solitary, anonymous individual - not Gordon Brown, or an MP, or the local council ordering him to tear it down.
Don't you all think this is a bit of an over-reaction? Recently one of my neighbours complained anonymously to the council about some (perfectly legal) work in my garden - I was a bit annoyed, but didn't feel that it was something that I had to tell the local paper and its readers about.
Of course Steve can fly a flag if he really wants to; I'm just a little surprised he didn't laugh the letter off and throw it in the bin.”
by Tim, Croydon
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 10:04AM
“So why doesn't everyone go out and buy a Union flag and hang it up? Even the Fire stations too. If enough people do it then they can't sack/prosecute/complain everyone. I doubt that they would replace the entire staff of a Fire station if everyone was behind it.
There must be at least 1 day a year when this could be co-ordinated. Like St. Patricks day for the Irish.”
by L, sanderstead
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 8:49AM
“I agree why should we be ashamed to be proud of our country, i think more people should celebrate being British, if you go to a different country we embrace and learn there culture, but when it comes to Britain we are not even allowed to wear a cross without seeming to be racist.
This is our country and our culture we should never have to be scared of being called racist to be proud of it.
Yes there are English, Asian, chinese people etc... we all live in this world together, there is nothing to be ashamed of just because someone comes from a different country, so why is so much of what people say branded as racist, its ridiculas, i for one am comfortable with my nationality.
We make an effort to celebrate other cultures and to embrace there religions as well, so why is it wrong to embrace our country and have pride in Britain.”
by bert, som
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 8:39AM
“It may surprise some people that the BNP have members of polish,Italian, hungarian decent, gay, disabled, jewish, and many members have foreign wives/husbands etc.
The BNP have Jewish councillors, a Jewish treasurer.
BNP also have Members of the Armed forces, ex WW2 veterans, ex spitfire pilots, pensioners.
Unemployed, Self employed and professional people !
Adam Walker BNP teacher has a Japanese wife, Richard Barnbrook (BNP GLA member) his partner Simone Clarke (BNP member)are bringing up Simones mixed race young child.
Regarding the usual ¿racist¿ accusations ¿ the most seriously injured BNP activist attacked with a claw hammer by anti-BNP protesters turns out to have a Chinese wife;
one of the two BNP officers in Wigan turns out to have been married 24 years to an Asian woman, and has a mixed race child (well, she¿s 20 now).
The British flag in Britain is to do with nationality not race, and second of all it celebrates the British way of life, isn't that why people from all nations nationalities choose to live here ?
So why should anyone be offended ?”
by Anon1, Anon
Monday, July 06 2009, 9:28PM
“Get this then, Warligham
I totally agree, the flag represents the country on which we live in..totally nonsense if this is a sign of racism..no wonder this country has gone mad..”
by Get this then, Warligham
Monday, July 06 2009, 9:05PM
“Unfortunately this sort of nonsense is not uncommon. I work in a London fire station. We have a flag pole attached to the front of the station. We are not allowed to fly the Union Flag or a St George's Cross because, ¿it does not represent the local community"???? This is a rule which applies to all London Fire Brigade Stations. I find this most annoying as the local police station flies the Union Flag along with the Town Hall. I am not racist I am patriotic. I believe we should have a Union Flag or St George's Cross on every government building (or garden shed) in England. I think we should be able to do this without being branded a racist.”