The Bath & North East Somerset Race Equality Panel has issued the following statement in response to the outcome of the Edward Colston statue trial in Bristol.

"The history of Bath, as is that of Bristol, is closely linked to the financial benefits of slavery, colonialism and empire, which were achieved through the exploitation of other countries and their peoples. The toppling of the statue of Edward Colston was a milestone in coming to terms with that history.

"In respect of Bath & North East Somerset we welcome the work that is starting to be done by local heritage organisations towards showing transparency and a full and honest history about these links. Bath & North East Somerset residents have the right to feel confident that the true history of Bath is being told and that the contribution of diverse voices is central to that narrative. Equality and justice in the future can only be achieved when the denial of those rights in the past has been fully acknowledged.

"Grappling with the historic practice of honouring slavers must also take place in a way that makes those impacted by slavery, past and present, the focus of activities. We must promote inclusive, open and measured ways to address our city and our region's efforts to acknowledge its past.

"We are committed to ensuring that the history of Bath and Bath & North East Somerset will be told and we are committed to taking all members of the wider B&NES community with us on this journey."

Four protestors who toppled the statue of 17th century slave trader Edward Colston during a Black Lives Matter protest in Bristol on 7 June 2020, known as the 'Colston Four', were acquitted at Bristol Crown Court of charges of criminal damage to the statue.

On 7 June 2020, the protestors pulled down the statue of Colston and dumped it into Bristol harbour. It was pushed into the water near Pero's Bridge – named in honour of an enslaved man.

Raj Chada and Laura O'Brien of Hodge Jones & Allen represented two of the four protestors, Jake Skuse (33) and Rhian Graham (30) who pleaded not guilty at the trial in Bristol Crown Court, which began on 13 December 2021. Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh of Matrix Chambers was instructed on behalf of Ms Graham.

Commenting on the verdict, Raj Chada, Head of Criminal Defence at Hodge Jones & Allen said: "The truth is that the defendants should never have been prosecuted. It is shameful that Bristol City Council did not take down the statue of slaver Edward Colston that had caused such offence to people in Bristol and equally shameful that they then supported the prosecution of these defendants"

Laura O'Brien, Senior Associate firm added: "Our clients acknowledge that this case is but a small part of the struggle against racism and the efforts to tell the story of slavery and its legacy with honesty. Our clients thank all those who have helped along the way, for many of them telling us their stories of pain and determination."