Sculpture of Black Lives protester is taken down by city

A SCULPTURE of a Black Lives Matter protester erected on the plinth where a statue of slave trader Edward Colston used to stand has been removed.

Artist Marc Quinn created the black resin and steel piece of Jen Reid after seeing a photo of her standing on the plinth following the toppling of the Bristol statue.

The sculpture was installed shortly before 4.30am on Wednesday by Mr Quinn’s team without the knowledge or consent of Bristol City Council.

Council contractors used webbing straps to hoist the 7.5ft high piece off the plinth yesterday and place it into a skip lorry. Bristol City Council tweeted: “This morning we removed the sculpture. It will be held at our museum for the artist to collect or donate to our collection.

“Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees issued a statement yesterday about the need for a democratic process where the people of Bristol decide the future of the plinth.”

The decision around the statue’s future comes as two teenagers were arrested over an incident where racial abuse was shouted at Black Lives Matter protesters. The males, aged 19 and 14, were arrested after the incident in Haverfordwest, Wales, on Wednesday.

Separately, a public consultation as part of a review of statues and monuments in Leeds is now under way.

The review will seek views and recommendations on how the city could better honour and represent inclusivity and diversity in public spaces, particularly in response to issues raised by the Black Lives Matter movement.

LIFTED AWAY:

PICTURES: BEN BIRCHALL/PA WIRE A workman with a hoist places a sling round the statue of Black Lives Matter protester Jen Reid in Bristol yesterday and, above left, it is placed in a skip, to be either reclaimed by the artist Marc Quinn or donated to the city’s art collection.