News / Edward Colston
Petition started to restore Colston statue and return it to plinth
More than 100 people have signed a petition urging Boris Johnson to restore the statue of Edward Colston and place it back on its plinth.
The petition asks the prime minister to remove the graffiti from the statue and ensure that when it is returned “it cannot be removed or damaged again”.
Simon Nicklin, who started the petition, wrote: “We live in a democracy, the thuggery surrounding the criminal damage was practically okayed by left-wing politicians due to anti-racist sentiment.
is needed now More than ever
“This is a statue of its time and half of Bristol was built on money from Edward Colston. Are we suggesting that we rip down half of Bristol?
“We cannot and should never give into the mob mentality. Other options were being discussed, such as an explanation put onto the plinth, or proper removal after a vote, to a museum.
“We believe the graffiti must be removed. It is not part of its history. It was violently and in a thuggish way, ripped from its plinth and thrown into the river. This is mob rule. We should never give into that kind of extremist criminal behaviour.”
Colston’s statue was toppled on June 7 2020 – photo: Martin Booth
After the statue was pulled down from its plinth during a Black Lives Matter march on June 7 2020, it was pushed and then pulled through the Centre before being thrown into the docks next to Pero’s Bridge.
Four days later, the statue was fished out of the water, reappearing with a bicycle tyre hooked around its coat.
Remarkable secrets were later found hidden within the hollow statue, which is still due to go on display in a museum.
In the meantime, the statue’s toppling has prompted the government to protect historic monuments, and four people who have each pleaded not guilty to the charge of criminal damage to the statue will stand trial at Bristol Crown Court in December.
Colston’s statue is pulled out of the docks – photo: Rob Browne
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read more: Date set for Colston 4 trial
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