Never mind, you can be sure it won't be there as long as Colston's was
The point knocked round for you and found you weren't home
My first thought was yay! The second was Brilliant!
Seems to me you wilfully miss some of the bigger picture.
I don't generally get involved in debates with butchersapron, because I'm the proverbial unarmed man in the battle of wits when it comes to such things, but my own politically naive take on this is that there's a narrative: Colston's statue got taken down, and various other activities have kept the pot boiling, now this - it's keeping the issue alive and in the public eye. I guess, from an ideologically purist point of view, it's not much cop, but it's another nice slap in the face, albeit maybe not a big enough one from some points of view, for the establishment efforts to keep things the same. The statue won't last, and with any luck what goes up in the end will be something that takes the narrative on in a useful direction, but it serves as a placeholder. Maybe it can end up in the museum next to Colston's...
I think you've both got a point. It's particularly pleasing to see a statue of a protester occupy that site. Especially to see the statue of a black woman replace a white slaver. But this is parachuting in and not dealing with how Bristolians who use the space want it filled. It is possible they'd go for something like the statue that's there now. But that choice, that agency, has been removed from them. In addition the statue's by someone with no connection to Bristol, not to mention that this is the view of an artist whose work sells at Sotheby's and high end celeb auctions. I wonder if a statue by a local artist might have more resonance.
I agree. But this is encouraging for people. It inspires. It's a win.
The issue hasn't really gone away, not since the toppling - this week there was long attack in the paper from a former Merchant Venturer bigwig over their role in running numerous schools in the city (they honestly do, mad as that sounds) with lots more to come on that front, and Cleo Lake (local green poss future mayor and very associated with counter-colston) has come out attacking the potential prosecutions and putting the pressure on mayor Rees who has effectively gone into political hiding over the issue, refusing all questions etc This will, of course, contribute to that ongoing stuff, but it's not like it's not ongoing already.
If a decent protest is organised send word, we will come.
If there are prosecutions - don't worry, everyone will know about it!
We come down to support anyone prosecuted then go on to other targets? Has anyone been charged yet? I heard one was nicked?
One person questioned and immediately got representation a few weeks back.
I'd hope, if there are prosecutions, that there will be a pretty massive crowdfunder, or some pro bono legal representation...
I want hordes of thugs outside court.
My first thought was 'at least is wasn't Banksy'.
i'm not sure someone bowling up and saying 'i'm going to put my own statue on that now-vacant plinth' is democracy in action. maybe this time it's something many people will cheer. but as far as i can see there's been none of your actual involvement in the decision by bristolians which might enable you to say 'this is the people's will' or similar.
He's one of the more significant contemporary artists working in the UK atm - you'll know at least his head made of his own blood, frozen:
Shamefully, I'm a bit of philistine when it comes to contemporary artists, but I do vaguely recognise the woman on the Trafalgar plinth.
