To feel emotional at the slave trader statue

[Millicent10]

being pulled down earlier.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52954305

This says so much and the symbolism of throwing it in the river is such a suitable ending. Reminds everyone what happened to so many slaves.

I have no issue with it being gone at all, it obviously shouldn't be there. But the footage worried me, it looked dangerous to pull it down like that (but maybe that's the angle of the clip I saw making it look like it came down nearer to people than it did). I'm surprised the police let it happen, it's lucky no one was hurt. That may be me being a worrywart though.

All of you jumping on the bandwagon do you actually know anything about all the good things he did for Bristol?

I hear Hitler did great things for Germany - trains running on time, low to zero unemployment, hosted the Olympics and got all the children involved in outdoor pursuits, allegedly loved his dog. No statues of him though, are there?

In which case is there any point to democracy?

You tell me. You tell me how democracy is saving the world from climate change. You tell me how democracy is stopping the police from killing black people.

You're the one sticking up for democracy. So you tell me.

@Rowantree2020

I think it’s completely wrong to have the statue. I just don’t think it’s for groups of protesters to rip stuff down because that’s a slippery slope. It’s for the council to take it down following the normal democratic process.

Exactly - mob rule? What next?

I'm in Ireland were lots of statues of British colonists were blown up. Good riddance. And we even have a great democracy and human rights. Imagine having a statue of Hitler because he did after all improve the economy etc. This kind of activism is nothing new in lots of countries. Fir those of you worried about the end of times.

Dancing bear do I need to point out the record on non democratic regimes in the treatment of minorities?

Better to let the statue stand as a focus for education about the past. Airbrushing history has never turned out well.

Rowantree2020, civil unrest as a means of protest is what happens when an otherwise-sensible democracy fails to address a glaring misjustice: the Brixton riots, the poll tax riots, Extinction Rebellion, you can add your own if you think hard enough.

I'm glad this is happening. it's one of those seismic moments.

And I'm suspicious of the agendas of those who seek to decry this kind of protests as 'mob rule'. You can just imagine what they would've been saying in 1981.

This vandalism is criminal.

I would have supported the statue being removed and relocated to an exhibition on slavery.

However, I think that the people who did this broke the law and should go to jail. If not, where will this end? People who don't like something can just go and destroy it? You think someone is racist so you punch them in the face, dishing out your own justice? No. Vigilante behaviour isn't allowed. People have to respect the law.

Dancing bear do I need to point out the record on non democratic regimes in the treatment of minorities?

I think we need to get our own house in order before we lob stones at countries with other systems of government. Whataboutery of the highest order.

The point is that our democratic system is failing BAME people at the moment. But you and others are bending over backwards to defend it.

@AlexandPea

Better to let the statue stand as a focus for education about the past. Airbrushing history has never turned out well.

^ This.

If Colston had disregarded the law or changed the law to suit his purposes of mass slaughter (like Hitler) then it would be a different issue altogether but it was a part of society at the time and was (wrongly) legal and supported by many. Without Colston's money (and others) and without the slave trade Bristol wouldn't exist as it does now - do we demolish the whole city because of it?

So pleased it was pulled down. Can't actually believe it was there in the first place. It's a disgrace that it was. I am very happy it's down.

I'm mixed race. (Black Caribbean parent).

I would have wanted the statue to remain.

I would want to show my children how figures like this rise to power off the broken backs (literally) of others, and how despicable that is.

Yes you can do that without a statue. But it's existence is a point of commentary in itself. It says that people are often celebrated for being benefactors when people are grateful to receive the money without looking too closely into the suffering that made that money.

I would have kept it. I don't do the hysterical virtue signalling that seems so popular about race issues at the moment.

His name should also have remained on the buildings.

Colostomy primary school changed its name a couple of years ago.

I'm not surprised, that's a terrible name for a school.

Without Colston's money (and others) and without the slave trade Bristol wouldn't exist as it does now - do we demolish the whole city because of it?

No, just the fucking statue of him. What a stupid question.

You coming on here and sticking up for a FUCKING SLAVE TRADER in the current climate is the most crass, tone deaf and ignorant thing I've ever read on here.

it should have been left as a reminder then, not thrown in the river.

I don't remember anyone rotesting about iraqi's pulling down a staue of Saddam Hussian and beating it with their shoes it was seen as a good expression of some freedom of course it didn't even touch on te beginning of solving Iraq's problems but no way was toppling Saddam's statue a mistake

There is a debate to be had re other colonial benefactors Rhodes at Oxford for instance. Colston is part of Bristol's history he can't be washed out of history but neither does he warrant a big public statue,

A house through time on BBC2 is doing a programme right now about a house in Bristol by David Olusoga that was originally built by people who made their money from Slavery worth watching on iplayer especially first episode

To pp re Hitler, he acted within the laws of the country of the time. Yes he made them but was allowed to was indented by any international arguments. Slace traders had a choice, lots of people were anti it as an inhumane practice.

No dancing bear, I want to improve our democratic system to improve outcomes for BAME. I think our democracy is flawed but still believe that it is the best hope. But you disagree and that’s ok. I guess that’s democracy.

The lads in the white vans with orange lights on top will have that valuable scrap metal out of the Avon by morning .

About time that dreadful statue went. People have asked for it to go for decades.

Oh god I have done the thing you are not supposed to and entered in to a FB spat with some twit.

Apparently she believes his statue was fine as its history and asks why Nelson Mandelas statue has not been pulled down as he was an activist which is as bad as a slave trader

I asked why the schools, streets and houses Edward slave trader Colston built never educated or housed black people and why is she so proud of his statue but she hasn't replied.

Stick it head first in a giant crock of shit and call it art.

Should win the Turner Prize.