UK: Protests against the memorialisation of racism
In the UK, in Bristol, a city that was built on the slave trade, protests focused on the memorialisation of 17th century slave trader Edward Colston. In June, protesters toppled a 19th century statue of Colston and threw it into the waters of the harbour. Shortly afterwards, in London, another slaver statue, of Robert Mulligan, was removed from outside the Museum of London Docklands, which is based in a former sugar warehouse and hosts an exhibition on slavery in the sugar trade.
In the UK everyone points to the USA and claims the situation is not as bad here. But as an empire, Britain played a role in creating this system in the first place. We need to educate ourselves about the connections between the empire and oppressive structures.
Kelsey M
