UK: Bristol debates fate of toppled bronze statue of 17th-century slave trader

The bronze statue of Edward Colston stood in the center of the English port city of Bristol for more than 120 years. But last year it was toppled as part of a global wave of anti-racism protests sparked by the killing of Black American man George Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020. The U.K. is in the middle of a nationwide debate about its slave-trading past and which figures from history should be commemorated. Colston was a 17th-century trader who made a fortune transporting African slaves to the Americas on ships from Bristol. That’s why people toppled his statue. But he also funded schools and charities in Bristol. Many streets, schools and major buildings took his name. For now, the statue is being displayed in a museum until Sept. 5. Visitors can complete a survey about “what you think should happen next.” (AP) This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.