Black Lives Matter protesters in England tear down statue of slave trader and throw it in a well

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Protesters in Bristol have toppled a statue of merchant and slave trader Edward Colston in the wake of Black Lives Matter movement.

Footage shared on Twitter shows the crowd use ropes to pull down the statue after covering it with a plastic sheet.

They then proceed to hit the statue with a skateboard, spit on the statue and spray it with silver paint.

The group is seen screaming in high spirits and waving placards.


One protester appears to pose with his knee on the statue's neck – reminiscent of the viral video showing George Floyd, an African-American who died being restrained by a Minnesota police officer.

A later video shows the statue being thrown in the River Avon by the crowd.

Avon and Somerset Police superintendent Andy Bennett has said an investigation has been launched to identify the small group of people "who clearly committed an act of criminal damage".

The statue of Edward Colston has been increasingly controversial in recent years, with a growing awareness of the merchant's involvement in slavery.