Ellie Kendall writes for The Bristol Post about how the Edward Colston statue, the verdict and the knock-on effect of the statue have divided the city of Bristol. Kendall asks “how can we fix our relationships with each other?” 

The verdict has left some Bristolians proud, some angry and others are desperate to learn more. But one thing is certain, the topic has “divided the city, caused friends and family members to fallout”. 

“But for those of us who live and work here, rebuilding doesn’t just relate to who, if anyone, we replace Colston’s statue with, but rather how we can mend the divide which has been created due to the differing opinions of how the statue should, or could, have been removed.”

The paper quotes historian David Olusoga, who told Good Morning Britain: “Most people don’t understand the details of this history, of this statue, and the long campaign to have it removed peacefully.”

He added: “That statue standing there for 125 years was validating the career of a mass murderer. And to people whose ancestors were enslaved by Colston and men like him, it is offensive, and you can talk to thousands of people in Bristol who found it offensive.

So I think this idea that a statue is somehow benign or harmless, I think that depends on your experience, where you’re coming from and what your family background is.”

But the Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees seemed to have a different opinion – he believes removing statues isn’t on the list of things to do when talking about what we need to tackle to end racism. 

Now how can we fix our relationship with each other, asks the writer, who suggests Bristolians need to actively build back their relationships now the Colston statue chapter is somewhat at an end?