The death of George Floyd has sparked outrage amongst human rights activists all over the world. Massive peaceful and violent protests have been seen across the United States of America and all over the world since his death was recorded on cam.
In the latest event of a BLM (Black Lives Matter) protests, we take you to Bristol.
For 125 years, a statue of Edward Colston, a 17th-century slave trader, stood in the center of Bristol, however, it no longer does because BLM protesters threw it into the harbor.
Protests against racial injustice and police brutality have reached the United Kingdom.
Rallies and marches have been seen in Manchester, Bristol, and London,
In Bristol, those in attendance went after one of the reminders of them being part of the slave trade.
Demonstrators removed the bronze memorial of Colston’s from its plinth in St Augustine’s Parade.
The statue was pushed into the harbor.
A video of the incident was shared by Jack Grey on Twitter, with the caption of:
Edward Colston statue pulled down by BLM protesters in Bristol. Colston was a 17th century slave trader who has numerous landmarks named after him in Bristol
Colston, who was born in 1636, served as a Conservative MP for Bristol after his tenure as a deputy governor in the Royal African Company.
He is believed to have trafficked 84,000 African men, women, and children in his time.
It is said that around 19,000 died on their journey to the Caribbean and America.
71-year-old John McAllister, a protester, removed bin bags that were hiding the statue before denouncing it to the crowds.
A rope was tied around it in order to pull it down.
During an interview with the Independent, McAllister said:
It says ‘erected by the citizens of Bristol, as a memorial to one of the most virtuous and wise sons of this city’. The man was a slave trader. He was generous to Bristol but it was off the back of slavery and it’s absolutely despicable. It’s an insult to the people of Bristol.
The name of the slave trader has been drawn upon in the areas of Bristol, which includes streets, Colston bun, and schools.
However, because of the latest BLM movement, a petition to remove the statue has gathered a lot of attention.
There are over 11,000 signatures of it right now.
As the statue was tossed into the sea at the Bristol Harbor, many celebrated.
Sarah Turnnidge, a Twitter user, was told a protester:
It’s what he deserves. I’ve been waiting all my life for this moment.
Shortly after the statue of Colston was pulled down, some attendees knelt on it in a powerful inverse of the United States’ recent events.
What do you think about these recent events? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.