Just one day after replacing a statue of a controversial 17th century British slave trader, a sculpture of a Black Lives Matter protester was removed by authorities amid a heated debate over the removal of confederate statues.
The statue of protester Jen Reid, created by sculptor Marc Quinn, was placed on Wednesday in honor of the movement’s mission to dismantle racism and police brutality across the globe.
The Bristol city council took to Twitter on Thursday to announce the removal of the sculpture.
“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 council said.
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
— Bristol City Council (@BristolCouncil) July 16, 2020
Watch the removal of the sculpture below:
A statue of a Black Lives Matter protester that was secretly erected by a local artist in the place of an effigy of a 17th century British slave trader was removed by authorities after one day. https://t.co/gV6XPo8QjU pic.twitter.com/rMajj9KNcA
— The View (@TheView) July 16, 2020
Marvin Rees, the mayor of Bristol, issued a statement on Wednesday explaining the future of any memorials need to be decided by the residents of Bristol.
“To this end, the future of the plinth and what is installed on it must be decided by the people of Bristol. This will be critical to building a city that is home to those who are elated at the statue being pulled down, those who sympathise with its removal but are dismayed at how it happened and those who feel that in its removal, they’ve lost a piece of the Bristol they know and therefore themselves,” Rees said.
Rees noted permission for the statue to be installed was not requested or given.
The removal comes as the nation wrestles over whether Confederate statues should remain standing.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) expressed her support for the removal of confederate statues and symbols from the Capitol, as IJR previously reported.
Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) previously expressed his support for the removal of confederate statues from public places.
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump defended Americans’ right to display the Confederate flag.
He said some Americans “love” the confederate flag and are not necessarily “thinking about slavery.”