BLACK Lives Matter protesters in Bristol have pulled down a controversial statue of a 17th-century slave trader and dumped it in the harbour.
Footage on social media captures the moment the statue of Edward Colston, which has stood since 1895, came crashing down during protests in the city centre.
Further videos then show the bronze statue being rolled along the streets, before finally being dumped in Bristol Harbour to cheers from crowds.
Colston, who has numerous landmarks named after him in the city, is believed to have transported tens of thousands of people from Africa to the Americas.
He became deputy governor of the Royal African Company, which held a monopoly in slave trading.
There had been over 10,000 signatures on a petition to Bristol City Council to get the memorial removed.
Watch the moment the statue came down below:
Edward Colston statue pulled down by BLM protesters in Bristol. Colston was a 17th century slave trader who has numerous landmarks named after him in Bristol. #BlackLivesMattters #blmbristol #ukprotests pic.twitter.com/JEwk3qKJx2
— Jack Grey (@_jackgrey) June 7, 2020
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