News / Edward Colston
Road names changed to pay homage to Bus Boycott and other ‘pioneers of colour’
Colston Avenue has become Tony Benn Place as a group of activists set out to inspire change “by paying homage to the Bristol Bus Boycott and other pioneers of colour”.
Benn was a Bristol MP who lent his support to the bus boycott of 1963, which marked a new chapter in the struggle for racial equality in Bristol and the UK.
The road sign close to Christmas Steps and where the Colston statue used to stand was covered in black tape before its new name was revealed.
is needed now More than ever
“We believe road names are representative of who a city honours,” say Curiosity UnLtd, the group behind the campaign.
“And in Bristol, many reference Bristol’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade…
“We have set out to inspire change through our alternative road names by paying homage to the Bristol Bus Boycott and other pioneers of colour.”
Queen Charlotte Street has become Martin Luther King Street – photo: Martin Booth
Elsewhere, a road sign for Martin Luther King Street has appeared on Queen Charlotte Street next to King Street, Christmas Steps has become Race Equality Steps and Prince Street Bridge has a new sign of I Have a Dream Bridge.
Other existing road names that Curiosity UnLtd want changed include Guinea Street, Jamaica Street, Codrington Place, Tyndall’s Park and Stapleton Road.
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read next:
- Colston Road in Easton could have name changed
- Road named after Colston now named after people who pulled statue down
- ‘The very least we can do is not glorify slavers with street names’
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