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Rees: ‘Colston’s statue not being there is a good thing but we must deal with issues of substance’
Following the news that the Colston 4 were found not guilty over the toppling of the statue of Edward Colston, Marvin Rees has given his thoughts on the verdict.
Despite the international spotlight on our city, the mayor has said that the verdict makes little difference to what he is trying to achieve.
“Our job is to be ambitious for Bristol,” Rees told Bristol24/7.
is needed now More than ever
“I’ve made a commitment to making a more inclusive society, one in which we tackle race and class inequalities.
“Structural racism is about power and wealth, which is why we need to focus on affordable homes, access to education and employment, inequalities in mental health and life expectancy. These are the real issues.”
Protesters outside Bristol Crown Court ahead of the start of the Colston 4 trial – photo: Rob Browne
It is clear to Rees that Bristol should be focusing on policy issues – and that the symbolic removal of Colston’s statue cannot replace substantial action in tackling structural racism.
“When I look at what I do with the finite city resources as the mayor, should I prioritise the Colston statue?
“When we look at what happens to those four individuals, it doesn’t make much of a difference to the delivery of affordable homes, tackling education inequality and tackling structural racism.”
Despite his emphasis on Bristol’s need for structural change, Rees’ personal feelings on the Colston statue remain the same and “it is important that the statue is no longer there”.
“The statue is a personal affront. I’m descended from enslaved Africans from Jamaica and my family may have well been owned by Colston. The statue not being there is a good thing but we also have to deal with real policy agenda.”
Main photo: Sam Gibson Photography
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