In Pictures: Bristol’s Historic Black Lives Matter March
Posted on: 08 Jun 2020On Sunday 7 June, thousands took part in Bristol’s Black Lives Matter march, after the death of George Floyd sparked demonstrations across the world.
The march started on College Green with a series of speeches, before demonstrators marched to Castle Park.
During the march, the city centre statue of the 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston was toppled from its plinth in front of a cheering crowd.
After, speeches took place on the plinth, and placards from the protest were laid its place.
One man knelt on the neck of the toppled statue for eight minutes – the same amount of time a police officer had knelt on the neck of George Floyd.
Demonstrators then rolled the statue to the city’s docks and pushed it into the harbour.
For now, the statue, which for generations has been viewed by many people in Bristol as an appalling memorial of the slave trader, now lies underwater, close to Pero’s Bridge – a bridge that is named after a man who lived in Bristol as a slave.
Today, the toppling has made headlines around the world. Many, including Massive Attack, have celebrated the statue’s removal: "Finally." Others have criticised the removal.
Placards from the protest which were laid at the foot of the plinth are to be preserved for display in the M Shed, according to Bristol City Council.
Here is a collection of images and videos of yesterday’s march:
Video by Ace Brown
10,000 people gathered. A statue fell. The world saw it. #Bristol #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/BBSFnVOXo3
— BBC Radio Bristol (@bbcrb) June 8, 2020
People on Park Street, Bristol observing the 8m56s silence before the Black Lives Matter march. pic.twitter.com/r0cP7I1vRi
— Anthony Ward (@Anth0ny_Ward) June 7, 2020
Bristol, 2020 pic.twitter.com/X8bkTGTAVX
— James Koch (@dont4getthesun) June 7, 2020
Black Lives Matter Protest Bristol pic.twitter.com/cVgSe4kBE6
— Martin Rao (@MartinRao11) June 7, 2020
Blood on his hands and blood in his eyes. Colston#blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/78M9Ezn6kp
— Colin Moody (@MoodyColin) June 7, 2020
This is what the Bristol Colston statue plinth looks like now. Powerful. #BlackLivesMatterUK pic.twitter.com/rzsf7tUa4m
— Rebecca del Tufo (@BeccadT) June 7, 2020
A few powerful images from today at the BLM protest in Bristol. #BlackLivesMattters pic.twitter.com/DieiHgmAvt
— Rich Lock (@richlockphoto) June 7, 2020
We have collected all the signs that were laid in the city after yesterday's #BlackLivesMatter protest so we can preserve them for display in the @mshedbristol pic.twitter.com/Beo09OKcdk
— Bristol City Council (@BristolCouncil) June 8, 2020
Main photo: Bristol City Council
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