A month after the bronze statue of seventeenth-century slave trader Edward Colston was toppled into Bristol harbour, yesterday he was replaced – with a figure of one of the Black Lives Matter protesters who climbed on the plinth and raised her fist in celebration that day.
However, within little more than 24 hours, the resin-and-steel sculpture of Jen Reid had already been removed. At around 5.30am today, contractors were pictured hauling the statue into a skip hire lorry and driving away.
Video: The moment the statue of Jen Reid was lifted from the plinth at 5.30 this morning, by workmen on behalf of the council. pic.twitter.com/E8Cz72wSb6
— Anthony Ward (@Anth0ny_Ward) July 16, 2020
The resin-and-steel sculpture of Jen Reid appeared on the plinth just after 5am yesterday following a secret mission by a team of ten, led by artist Marc Quinn, who arrived in two lorries at dawn. On seeing the statue, Reid, a stylist, told The Guardian: ‘Being up there, with my fist raised – it was an amazing moment, and this captures it. It gives me goose pimples.’
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The authorities have yet to announce plans for an official replacement for Colston, who was responsible for transporting at least 80,000 people from West Africa to the Caribbean. A spokesperson for the council today said the statue of Reid would be taken to a local museum for the artist to pick up or donate to its collection.
Here are all the ways you can support Black Lives Matter right now.