Image credit: “Abolish The Monarchy Melbourne/Naarm Rally” by matt hrkac is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
I came out of my racially segregated bubble to catch a train down to London to do some interviews about the legacies of colonialism and racism that will be on display during the coronation. As soon as you walk into New Street station there are pictures of the King and Camilla awkwardly smiling down at you. I’ve largely managed to avoid being triggered by the Union Jack but once I left the safety of the neighborhood I knew it couldn’t last.
Just imagining all the flags and bunting makes my stomach feel uneasy. I know it is just a symbol, but it is one that has been embraced by fascists and more often than not the nationalism that comes with flag waving is usually the kind that means we are not welcome. Britain has been steadily turning to the right, with Brexit, the most racist immigration policy in history, and appalling rhetoric from the government. The coronation is the icing on the cake as the nation politely slides into “national conservatism,” an anti-immigrant nation that bathes in colonial nostalgia.
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