A SCULPTURE of a Black Lives Matter protester has been placed on the plinth formerly occupied by the statue of slave trader Edward Colston.
It was erected at around 4.30am on Wednesday.
The protester depicted is Jen Reid, who was photographed standing on the plinth after Colston’s statue was removed by a crowd in Bristol last month.
The resin and steel statue of Reid, named A Surge of Power, was created by artist Marc Quinn in partnership with Reid.
The statue does not have official permission to be in place but Quinn told The Guardian that his team conducted the same surveys and health and safety checks that it would have been subjected to if it had official approval.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast this morning, Reid said: “As yet it’s not been approved but I think it’s something the people of Bristol will really appreciate seeing.”
It is not intended to be a permanent fixture, Quinn has said.
After Quinn and Reid left the area, a sign that reads: “Mark Quinn loves money, not blacks” was placed at the bottom of the plinth.
Asked if it was an issue that a white artist had created the work, Reid told The Guardian: “It’s not even a question. If we have allies, it doesn’t matter what colour they are. He has done something to represent BLM, and to keep the conversation going.”
A group of protesters toppled the Colston statue during an anti-racism protest in Bristol on 7 June.
They rolled it to the harbour and into the water.
The statue had stood in Bristol city centre since 1895.
It was later retrieved and Bristol mayor Marvin Rees has said that it will be exhibited in one of the city’s museums.
No official plans have been announced for the future of the plinth.
The protester’s actions reignited international debates about what should be done with monuments that celebrate or are linked to slave traders or controversial historical figures.
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My predictions are coming true and my soul is despondent. The campaigners in Bristol have installed a statue of a young African-woman after famously removing the statue of Mr. Edward Colston; the wealthy trader in African-Slaves.
I would rejoice if the people of Bristol had agreed to stop the colour racism and discrimination by the Police, Employers, the Judiciary, Academia the Education, and Public Health system.
Removing statues is the definition of “gesture politics.” It is meaningless and does not address African-skinned Subject’s core demand which is to be treated with Justice. Justice is colour-blind.
I call on the people of Bristol not to confuse removing a statue with achieving colour-blind Justice. Colour-blind Justice is what the English Establishment requires.