The statue of Colston in Bristol has been taken down by the protestors

[MrsPeacockInTheLibrary]

If you know anything of the history of Bristol and the slave trade - his name and legacy is deeply controversial. There are two sides to it at least.

I don't know who was responsible for it being torn down. But it is a big development for this city and its long history of protests.

The statue should not have been there to throw in the river. Replace it with a Memorial to the millions who were traded. Put up a stage to an abolitionist, if statuary is needed.

I'm a Bristolian, my family have lived here since the 19th Century and I love this city.

The statue needed to come down. We are not "white washing" history. He can still be read about in books. His footprints can still be found all over the city. However, celebrating him is not correct or appropriate.

The only thing I wish didn't happen was dumping the statue in the river. I'm not happy about the environmental impact of that (although saying that, the statue is probably the cleanest thing in there!).

Sky News:

"We will get the statue out."

The Mayor of Bristol, @MarvinJRees says the slave trader statue that was toppled by anti-racism protesters is “highly likely” to end up in a museum but has "other priorities" at the moment.

@Smilethoyourheartisbreaking

Curious do you live in Bristol? I'm guessing not. I do. I was there. I was an amazing thing to see. Remember this is about Blacklivesmatter

Mmm! I used to! And I doiubt many there were thinking about anyone other than themselves!

And you were there? Then you may well have been stood alongside a friend of mine... white, middle aged, middle class woman who fights for all sorts of people she considers in need of her help!

She too thought history had been made.

But she won't think about the modern day slaves cos that would mean her having to do something properly brave.

Which black lives matter? Those of the past or those of today? Maybe you could think of both and act for those of today!

I'm sorry you seem to think I am some sort of spoil sport, insensible of the issues etc. But I can't imagine why anyone would hold up such virtue signalling twaddle as meaningful!

(Before you go off on one about my not having a clue etc etc, I am old enough to have been at Greenham Common... and was, for a short while)

The whataboutery is strong with this one...

@ZoeCM

I feel vaguely uncomfortable about the fact that, in the videos I've seen, the crowd appears to be almost entirely white. I can't articulate why I feel that way, though.

It really wasn't. The statue was pulled down by white people - they came prepared and equipped to do so. The crowd was about 50/50 between black and every other race from every direction I could see, at every point.

Yes, and smuggery is all around us!

Sorry I can't buy into little white boys saving black lives! It's self serving bollocks that distracts from the very real issues.

But if you need bread and circuses...

This isn’t about air-brushing history. And besides, history is always air-brushed and chosen, by the way - by those in power; countless truths fall by the wayside.

This is about no longer honouring someone who was a slave trader.

How can anyone object to that? The democratic process wasn’t working was it?

Yes, I'm also ROFLing at that poster decrying other people's supposed virtue signalling, Smile.

With every post, she's also demonstrating she hasn't actually seen much of the footage of the statue. (Well, I'm crediting her with ignorance rather than deliberate deceit.)

As the rest of us can see, it was a mixed crowd of men and women, black and white, young and old. Almost as if people had come together despite all the attempts at divide and rule by politicians...

It's fabulous watching that again: the final heave of the slave trader's statue into the river was largely by black lads, surrounded by a cheering, united crowd of all comers. I mean, I wish it hadn't come to this; the council should have moved it years ago. But as symbolism goes... nice one!

Edward Colston: Bristol slave trader statue 'was an affront'
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-52962356

@smiley If that's what you read in my posts then that's on you. You have serious reading comprehension issues or are waving your own virtuous little flag at my expense. Not pleasant!

Happens a lot here. Racist gets flung at anyone who dares not cave in to the uber apologetic zeitgeist.

Personally I don't need the bread and circuses. I know what I do about all sorts of inequality. And it's a lot more than leaping round like a fool because a statue got pulled down.

Virtue on...

And the irony plays both ways. In real life there is no need be right answer.

And all the daft comparisons like the Berlin Wall, statutes of dictators etc, only serve to highlight the intense need of some to be outraged, virtuously so of course.

I was disappointed that the police stood by and did nothing while hundreds carried out an act of vandalism. A 'tactical decision' was made not to intervene because it could have led to further violence. How pathetic and hypocritical of the police. Just let the mob rule why don't you.

I would have been uncomfortable about having a statue of a slave trader in my town - we've got a prison reformer - but there are ways of getting it removed. The mayor appears to have approved of its removal so I'm sure that this could have been done legally.

I am sickened that it seems to be perfectly ok for people to break the law and ignore lockdown regulations just because they are protesting against the abhorrent scourge of racism. If it had been climate change protests for example, it would have been interesting to see if that had been condoned by those in authority.

www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristol-church-refuses-host-most-782798.amp?__twitter_impression=true

Until 2017 there was an annual service to give thanks to God for the life of Edward Colston, held every year on his birthday. The church listened to its people.

This slave trader transported over 80,000 Africans from their homes ( including women and children) They were branded like animals. Some of them were thrown overboard and drowned. African women were raped ,African men were tortured and beaten into submission.
Let this sink in and then tell me why pulling that statue down was wrong. Bear in mind that there have been petitions to remove this statue for some years , which were ignored.
I will never condone violence, but can understand why people decided to take matters into their own hands.
That statute should have placed in a museum as a reminder of Britain’s horrific actions.

Let us remember that this country ‘Great’ Britain was built on the back of slavery and colonialism. This is not recognised
Let us remember that West African, Caribbean and Indian people fought for this country in the two World Wars. This is not recognised

Let us remember that Britain asked people from West Indies to help the country out when we were in need. This is not recognised.
Black people’s contributions and suffering are not recognised.
I as a white , middle class , professional woman will recognise the contribution of black people to this country.
Call me PC , call me a ‘white saviour,’ or a virtue signaller , I don’t care.
I just want to do the right thing

AreYouBeing - I would disagree with your assertion that the contribution of Commonwealth countries to the war effort is not recognised.

I think that this was the case for some time but certainly not now. I find the laying of wreaths by representatives of all the Commonwealth nations at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday a very moving moment. There is also quite a lot of coverage in the media, particularly at that time.

A 'tactical decision' was made not to intervene because it could have led to further violence. How pathetic and hypocritical of the police. Just let the mob rule why don't you

They seem to be doing this a lot. They took the same stance when Extinction Rebellion dug up the garden at Trinity College in Cambridge last year. It worries me. When we start letting mob rule go unchallenged, God knows where it will end up.

I might have more sympathy if the demonstrators had expressed an objective, something tangible they want to see happen. If they have, it’s pretty unclear.

I wonder how many of those demonstrating and removing the statue were wearing clothes produced in Asian sweatshops?

all the daft comparisons like the Berlin Wall, statutes of dictators etc

I don’t think I understand what you’re saying here? What makes the comparison daft? We’re talking about symbols of oppression, aren’t we?

When the Colston Hall in Bristol re-opens this year - I am assuming the refurbishments have had to be put on hold in the current situation - it will have a new name. I don't think we yet know what the new name will be, but the change was agreed upon after a lot of pressure and consultation. It's obviously the right move.

@tornadoofsouls

Well apparently according to @almosthuman the Colston statue is just fine because at the time that his heinous crimes were committed, only white peoples thoughts mattered so therefore he was in the right.

Honestly the people who say Colston wasn't as bad as Hitler or Hussein need to get back to their history books.

@almosthiman

Are we only able to protest about something if we do EVERYTHING right?

If so, none of us would get anywhere.

It's such a shitty argument to say - well they can't protest against racism cos their clothes were from Primark.

You have to start somewhere

Hey virtue signallers -I was at Greenham common don't you know.
FFS.