A slave trader’s statue in Bristol has been torn down and thrown into the harbour during a second day of anti-racism protests across the UK.
Edward Colston was a member of the Royal African Company, which transported about 80,000 men, women and children from Africa to the Americas.
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. #BlackLivesMattters #blmbristol #ukprotests pic.twitter.com/JEwk3qKJx2
— Jack Grey (@_jackgrey) June 7, 2020
It comes after largely peaceful demonstrations in London on Saturday ended in some clashes with police.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick urged protesters to find another way to make their views heard.
Ellis Genge, who was born in Bristol, reacted to the story by asking if the school named after the slave trader will be changed.
Rename colstons school? https://t.co/FSOOFt5dFl
— Gengey (@EllisGenge) June 7, 2020
Gloucester forward Jamal Ford-Robinson also backed the actions of the protesters.
“I tend to stay away from heavy subjects on social media, it’s just not the place to have reasonable discussion,” wrote the forward.
I tend to stay away from heavy subjects on social media, it’s just not the place to have reasonable discussion.
However, if you have a problem with this, then please block me.
I want nothing to do with you. https://t.co/jKeChewlZu
— Jamal Ford-Robinson (@jfordrob) June 7, 2020
“However, if you have a problem with this, then please block me.
“I want nothing to do with you.”
Historian Prof David Olusoga told BBC News that the statue should have been taken down long before.
He said: “Statues are about saying ‘This was a great man who did great things.’ That is not true, he [Colston] was a slave trader and a murderer.”
8 times Ellis Genge proved he was a legend
1) When he smashed through a whole South African school
Here is some rare footage of a young Genge showing why the England and Leicester Tigers prop was given the nickname ‘baby rhino’.
Ellis Genge sitting down a South African school when he was @HartpuryRFC
Will he make the England squad to face France? #sixnations pic.twitter.com/nKteq4ZmI8
— Fantasy Rugby UK (@gatlandsquad) February 1, 2017
2) When he made a young fans day
A young lad who has been struggling in school was the recipient of Genge’s jersey post-match after the England prop had been swapping messages and supporting him online.
Ellis Genge = Good egg.
A young lad who has been struggling in school was the recipient of Genge’s jersey post match after the England prop had been swapping messages and supporting him online. #Classy @englandrugby pic.twitter.com/SxyLfblN2g
— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) September 6, 2019
