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An unofficial replacement for the Colston Statue this morning in Bristol.
It’s called ‘A Surge of Power (Jen Reid)’ by sculptor Marc Quinn.
(pics by @BenBirchallUK)
It’s called ‘A Surge of Power (Jen Reid)’ by sculptor Marc Quinn.
(pics by @BenBirchallUK)
Jen was one of many #BlackLivesMatter 
protesters who stood on the plinth after Colston was toppled a month ago.
#Bristol
protesters who stood on the plinth after Colston was toppled a month ago.#Bristol
It was put up with something of a military operation that, frankly, seemed a bit OTT
This line from the exclusive they gave to The Guardian made me lol
“...after meticulous planning to ensure the statue could be erected quickly enough to have it in place before officials arrived”
This line from the exclusive they gave to The Guardian made me lol
“...after meticulous planning to ensure the statue could be erected quickly enough to have it in place before officials arrived”
They clearly had a higher opinion of ‘the authorities’ capability & motivation to react to stop them at 5am.
tbh they could’ve done this at noon & taken an hour & I can’t see that anyone from the council would’ve stopped them.
tbh they could’ve done this at noon & taken an hour & I can’t see that anyone from the council would’ve stopped them.
But anyway, it seems a bit more sturdy than the Jimmy Savile ‘statue’ someone put up the other day.
That got blown off the plinth long before anyone from the council came along to think about taking it down...
That got blown off the plinth long before anyone from the council came along to think about taking it down...
No decision has been made about what, if anything, should replace the statue of Edward Colston.
A commission has been set up to think about it, & have a ‘conversation with the city’ about it.
Maybe Jen will end up in the museum next to Colston...
A commission has been set up to think about it, & have a ‘conversation with the city’ about it.
Maybe Jen will end up in the museum next to Colston...
Full story here: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/edward-colston-statue-replaced-black-4327995
A reminder that when the Society of Merchant Venturers raised funds for the Colston statue in 1895, the people of Bristol didn’t want it & didn’t donate, so the rich merchants paid for it themselves & stuck Colston up anyway.
#Bristol
#Bristol
Then the Society of Merchant Venturers stepped up their efforts to ‘brainwash’ Bristolians into loving Edward Colston
This from @Christine20Tony explains how: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/opinion-how-bristolians-been-brainwashed-698067
This from @Christine20Tony explains how: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/opinion-how-bristolians-been-brainwashed-698067
This continued until it started being challenged directly by @CounterColston in 2016-17
#Colston #Bristol https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/buns-sermons-slave-songs-how-652628
#Colston #Bristol https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/buns-sermons-slave-songs-how-652628
A headteacher of one of the SMVs’ flagship Colston schools at the time, & until last year, has told of his experiences trying to run a school under what’s been described since the 1920s as ‘the Cult of Colston’
#Bristol https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/society-merchant-venturers-not-fit-4305982
#Bristol https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/society-merchant-venturers-not-fit-4305982
Anyway, back to the statue of Jen Reid.
Who owns it now?
Will the council come take it away like they did this one?
#Bristol #Colston https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/mystery-what-happened-controversial-man-4235675
Who owns it now?
Will the council come take it away like they did this one?
#Bristol #Colston https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/mystery-what-happened-controversial-man-4235675
Who owns the Jen Reid statue is an ironic question given the council appealed for someone, anyone to claim they owned the Colston statue (& thus pass on the Q of the police’s investigation).
With the man in bin sculpture, the council took it away & invited creators to collect it.
With the man in bin sculpture, the council took it away & invited creators to collect it.
As far as I can see, Jen, the sculptor & his team have committed no crime in putting up this statue on the plinth of Edward Colston except maybe littering?
The council have a team that’s hot on that: It’s a £100 fine but half if you pay within 14 days.
#Bristol
The council have a team that’s hot on that: It’s a £100 fine but half if you pay within 14 days.
#Bristol
The appearance of the sculpture has prompted a two-pronged backlash already.
1 from people who don't like BLM
2 from Bristolians who aren't keen a white prof sculptor from London has imposed this on the city, which was taking time to decide for itself https://twitter.com/BenBirchallUK/status/1283322530649055232?s=20
1 from people who don't like BLM
2 from Bristolians who aren't keen a white prof sculptor from London has imposed this on the city, which was taking time to decide for itself https://twitter.com/BenBirchallUK/status/1283322530649055232?s=20
And Mayor @MarvinJRees has reflected that.
In a statement he says: "The sculpture that has been installed today was the work and decision of London based artist. It was not requested and permission was not given for it to be installed."
In a statement he says: "The sculpture that has been installed today was the work and decision of London based artist. It was not requested and permission was not given for it to be installed."
"The future of the plinth and what is installed on it must be decided by the people of Bristol." he adds. https://twitter.com/BristolCouncil/status/1283332417982476293?s=20
This tweet is the best example of a thought widely being thunk in Bristol rn
Basically, pulling down Colston was a Bristol thing, & it'll be Bristol that decides what happens next, thanks very much, London. https://twitter.com/JayDown9/status/1283401589726879749?s=20
Basically, pulling down Colston was a Bristol thing, & it'll be Bristol that decides what happens next, thanks very much, London. https://twitter.com/JayDown9/status/1283401589726879749?s=20
But also, Del's brilliantly layered tweet there is classic Bristol - it combines an apparently self-mocking message with a bite of reality.
Like a strong fist inside a clown's glove.
Like a strong fist inside a clown's glove.
People in Bristol were already busy thinking of how to replace #colstonstatue before this morning's London imposition.
Here's a handy guide:
(note to non-Bristol people, don't worry if you haven't heard of most of these people)
#BlackLivesMatter #Colston https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/things-suggested-replace-edward-colstons-4329248
Here's a handy guide:
(note to non-Bristol people, don't worry if you haven't heard of most of these people)
#BlackLivesMatter
#Colston https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/things-suggested-replace-edward-colstons-4329248
