I'm glad a jury found these protestors not guilty.

I can't imagine anyone who would tolerate a statue of a slave owning murderer being acceptable iconography in a civil society, apart from those who support such practices.

There are lots of things that people find offensive there are also plenty of ways to seek redress without resorting to violence.

Bristol Council held a referendum on the statue and the people did not vote to remove it but then I guess democracy is only acceptable when it comes up with the right answer.

This is not about whether Colston was a good or bad person but about criminal damage.

One more point

Did he not invest heavily in local community? Presumably anything he paid towards is being taken down

I live in Bristol and when there were polls and petitions it highlighted how many people were fine with the statue being there.

The law abiding majority dont care.

The violent extremists who appear at demos BLM, Kill the bill are a blight on Bristol.

I wholeheartedly agree with your comments.
Cast-iron criminal damage as far as I am concerned and shame on those jurors who deemed they were 'Not Guilty'.

Yes towards schools, the University, hospitals, churches and almshouses.

What he paid for will not be taken down. Much of it cannot be due to its listed status.

There are still charities bearing Colstons name like the Colston society, which instead of changing its name intends to cease benefitting the poor of Redcliffe area (near the docks) of the City it was set up to help.

Colston philanthropy was the reason the statue in the centre existed.