George Floyd protest: Edward Colston statue thrown into Bristol harbor – CBS News

A statue of slave trader Edward Colston used to be torn down and thrown into Bristol Harbor on Sunday by protesters demonstrating in opposition to racism and police brutality in England. Basically based completely totally on the BBC, one person used to be seen with their knee on the statue’s neck in reference to the deadly arrest of George Floyd, whose loss of life in Minneapolis impressed protests all around the globe.

The bronze statue used to be erected in 1895, extra than 150 years after Colston’s loss of life and 88 years after Britain abolished the slave alternate in 1807. Colston performed a key role within the Royal African Firm, a 17th century slave trader liable for transporting around 80,000 indentured of us to the Americas.

Colston’s title is on constructions, memorials and even streets. One such facility, a music venue is known as Colston Hall, is working on changing its title.

Authorities divulge they’ll launch an investigation into the statue’s toppling. Dwelling Secretary Priti Patel criticized the actions of protesters, telling the BBC the statue’s laying aside used to be “completely disgraceful.”

Protesters in London moreover focused a controversial statue, spray painting “used to be a racist” on the irascible of a statue of Winston Churchill. Moreover on Sunday, a statue of King Leopold II used to be defaced in Brussels with the note “disgrace,” as demonstrators chanted “reparations.”