Black Lives Matter Bristol June 7th

Today I marched because black lives matter. I was here for my Mum and all the people of colour who have had to carry the pain of racism for hundreds of years. 
As a white person I must take responsibility and use my privilege to stand in the way of racism. 
We can't change history but we can change our future. Children of colour are entitled to grow up with opportunities, with confidence and pride in themselves. With absolute equality. 

No virus is as deadly as racism. 

I would like to thank the organizers, smart young people who bought people together and led a peaceful, respectful protest. The removal of the despicable slave trader statue was a joyous point in the march and simply a job that needed doing a long time ago. 

Update - In the week that has now passed I have thought a lot about photographing this moment. Was it voyeurism or documenting a moment that was important to me? Street photography and taking peoples photos without permission in public is hard, it feels invasive despite being perfectly legal and well intentioned.
How would I feel if I had been photographed, I probably was as there were lots of photographers all getting their shots. I suppose I would be fine as long as I looked ok! My face is out there in public anyway and I hope I am a kind photographer. 

Photographing protests in less safe countries ie. China would be a different process. It would be wrong to share anyone's faces. If I photographed the pulling down of the statue it wouldn't have been ok to share the peoples faces as they could have been at risk of arrest.

I need a lesson in ethics and photography. MORE PHOTOS BELOW.

Park Street, Bristol 

This little boy arrived early with his Mum and scootered around college green with his Police Brutality vest on. The next generation is why we must make change now. 

Families arriving onto college green. 

A couple of people have a conversation in sign language. 

A couple of girls sit safely in the bus shelter.

The policewoman watching over the green.

Spiderman poses for photos

After the 9 minute kneel. 9 minutes is a long time to kneel, plenty of time to think about what you are doing.

A girl in a hope T shirt. 

I just loved this dress, fashion spot.

This sound system had all the base, as pictured.

This elderly man did have a sign saying 'black lives matter' which he held up for me but the photo didn't come out. It was wonderful to see such a diverse crowd. 

A photographer gets a higher shot.

After the removal of the statue. 

The police overseeing the statue removal. 

A young couple embrace on the plinth where the slave trader colston once stood.

Eat the rich. They could have at least had a protest sign? 

Ladies taking a break after the march.

Gentlemen having a distanced conversation in the park afterwards.

Castle park

colston tower still over shadows Bristol. Time for renaming.