The past, and present, story of a toppled UK slave trader’s statue
While not as apparent as in the US, the racial divide with its attendant discrimination is alive and well in the UK
If Britons wanted a reason to protest against institutional racism, or police brutality, they didn’t have to look 6,500km away. There have been plenty of local examples over the years. “I can’t breathe” will have resonated with many black families in the country.
That’s why the killing of George Floyd has been a call to action in the UK too. An estimated 137,500 people have attended more than 200 protests in recent days. One produced an iconic picture of global outrage: the toppling of the statue of Edward Colston, a 17th century slave trader, in Bristol. Protesters dragged the bronze bulk through the streets and dumped it in Bristol Harbour...
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