Man arrested over toppling of statue English slave trader

 

The statue of 17th century slave trader Edward Colston falls into the water after protesters pulled it down and pushed into the docks, during a protest against racial inequality in the aftermath of the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Bristol, Britain, June 7, 2020. Picture taken June 7, 2020. Keir Gravil via REUTERS

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British police said they had arrested a man over the toppling of a statue of a 17th Century slave trader last month, an incident which sparked a major debate about Britain's imperial past.

 

Anti-racism protesters demonstrating in the port city of Bristol in western England in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in the United States pulled down the statue of Edward Colston and threw it into the harbour.

 

"A 24-year-old man was ... arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and has since been released under investigation," Avon and Somerset Police said in a statement.

 

Colston had made a fortune from trading in West African slaves and his statue had long been a contentious issue in Bristol. The memorial has since been retrieved from the water, and the mayor said it would displayed in a museum alongside Black Lives Matter placards.

 

After the incident, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman said he understood people's strong feelings on the issue but removing the statue was a criminal act.

 

The tearing down of Colston's statue led to other memorials being taken down or their future being debated, while many academics and public figures voiced opposition to the removal of such monuments, arguing they merely reflected history and should be used as points of discussion.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-07-02

 

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Nearly every single person in the photo is videoing it 

13 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

Nearly every single person in the photo is videoing it 

Arrest em all. Mob rule.

Just now, bodga said:

Arrest em all. Mob rule.

On what charges? 

all the toppled statues in the world is not going to remove the deeply buried hate of racists..

Just now, RuamRudy said:

On what charges? 

revealing historical truths..

4 minutes ago, from the home of CC said:

all the toppled statues in the world is not going to remove the deeply buried hate of racists..

Also it will not remove racism.

Throw the guy into the river...... a fitting punishment.

6 minutes ago, from the home of CC said:

all the toppled statues in the world is not going to remove the deeply buried hate of racists..

It certainly opened up debate though, and cast a whole new light for many on a lot of our country's supposed heroes. 

6 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

On what charges? 

Seeing as someone's been charged with toppling the statue unlawfully, would it follow they were complicit in a criminal act by videoing it?

Trump don't stand still too long you will toppled and put in the water.

15 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

On what charges? 

Unauthorized removal of a listed monument (think how that works when owners tamper with buildings of similar status-Their feet don't touch the floor & their bank balance empties like a fruit machine!) 

Docs to that effect have already been served on Bristol/London authorities inc Citizen Khan citing the appropriate legislation to have 2x statues restored and replaced in their original positions. If they're declined anyone living in a listed building will presumably be able to do as the please. Can you see HMG wearing that?

Edited July 2, 20206 yr by evadgib

6 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Throw the guy into the river...... a fitting punishment.

In a ducking stool, followed by a stint in the stocks ????

4 minutes ago, johnray said:

Trump don't stand still too long you will toppled and put in the water.

What a nonsensical thing to say 

Instead of retrieving it with a crane once all the feckless idiots who chucked it in the dock were rounded up they should have been made to recover it .. on 2nd thoughts none of them looking capable of wiring a plug so the chances of the ingenuity required to get it back out of the dock would be zero or thereabouts .. 

Edited July 2, 20206 yr by Justgrazing
Sp

Are the BLM idiots still toppling statues?  I thought they might have moved into toppling status of famous Jewish people by now, judging by the anti-semitic comments they've been making recently.....

Should have been arrested whilst in the act........

But our brave Bobbies did not want to cause undue stress to these peaceful protesters........And they are still taking the knee.......Makes me so proud.......

42 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

What a nonsensical thing to say 

Stadtler can't get beyond the grammar.

Putting the toe rag in court will only make him a hero in the eyes of the unwashed. 

I agree with simon43s comment to throw him but chain him to the statue first.  

Edited July 2, 20206 yr by twocatsmac

Now the BLM has run out of steam, and by anyone who participated with the nutters and idiots demonstrating,a good and likely time to hide with embarrassment

Edited July 2, 20206 yr by izod10

1 hour ago, johnray said:

Trump don't stand still too long you will toppled and put in the water.

Believe it or not, there is an entire world out there that has nothing to do with Trump. This story is an example.

1 hour ago, evadgib said:

Unauthorized removal of a listed monument (think how that works when owners tamper with buildings of similar status-Their feet don't touch the floor & their bank balance empties like a fruit machine!) 

Docs to that effect have already been served on Bristol/London authorities inc Citizen Khan citing the appropriate legislation to have 2x statues restored and replaced in their original positions. If they're declined anyone living in a listed building will presumably be able to do as the please. Can you see HMG wearing that?

But the guy I was replying to was suggesting that those filming it should be charged - I am not sure that filming a crime is, in itself, illegal.

1 hour ago, from the home of CC said:

all the toppled statues in the world is not going to remove the deeply buried hate of racists..

Indeed, but we must still fight against the BLM racists to prevent more looting, destroying, death, destruction and racism.

1 hour ago, bluesofa said:

Seeing as someone's been charged with toppling the statue unlawfully, would it follow they were complicit in a criminal act by videoing it?

Does that include the BBC and Sky news cameramen who filmed it?

23 minutes ago, twocatsmac said:

 

I agree with simon43s comment to throw him but chain him to the statue first.  

So you are OK with the statue in the drink then?

9 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

Does that include the BBC and Sky news cameramen who filmed it?

No, they were not part of the protests and disorder

2 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

No, they were not part of the protests and disorder

Protest is a right, not an offence. Do you have evidence to suggest that those in the photo partook in disorderly behaviour?

 

1 hour ago, RuamRudy said:

On what charges? 

Supporting something 'I do not like' maybe ? ????

1 minute ago, RuamRudy said:

Protest is a right, not an offence. Do you have evidence to suggest that those in the photo partook in disorderly behaviour?

 

Protests becomes an offence when violence occurs and property gets damaged 

I'll leave it to the police investigators to obtain any evidence to prosecute them .

8 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

Protest is a right, not an offence. Do you have evidence to suggest that those in the photo partook in disorderly behaviour?

Seizing all available footage will if plod gets off their Kyber and gets on with it.