Slavery reparations approved by Bristol Council in act of 'atonement'

Craig Simpson
·2 min read
Edward Colston's state was toppled in Bristol, which has historical links to the slave trade 
Edward Colston's state was toppled in Bristol, which has historical links to the slave trade

Reparations for slavery have been approved by Bristol City Council in act of “atonement”.

The Green Party councillor leading the motion, Cleo Lake, urged her colleagues to approve by “invoking” Rosa Parks and performing a lengthy monologue in character as the activist in a US accent.

The motion to provide financial support and address “the uncomfortable truth that lighter skin did (and continues to) confer greater advantage” was passed 47 votes to 12 by the Labour-led council.

Council papers stated that “reparations are necessary for achieving social justice” as “racism and racial hierarchy” continues to create divisions, and economic action was needed to support the descendants of “enslaved Afrikans”.

Proposed reparative justice will include “wealth creation strategies”, identifying institutions that have benefited from slavery so they can “work towards atonement and reparations”, along with an recognition of “a crime against humanity”.

Cllr Lake said, as Ms Parks, that “I believe we are here on this Earth to live, grow, and to do what we can to make the world a better place for all people to enjoy.”

She added in a party statement: “Today is a historic moment where we can go some way towards what must be done to atone and repair from the past.”

The council motion stated that reparative measures should support and be directed by the Afrikan Heritage Community, arguing that the Afro-Caribbean population still suffer inequality stemming from the slave trade.

It further enjoins councillors to call for a UK-wide system of reparations.

Conservative councillor Steve Smith said his party was opposing the motion, stating: “We believe the motion exacerbates division by promoting a binary view of the world when the reality is much more complicated.”

He added that the proposals “treat anyone of any African heritage as a victim”.

Bristol was the UK’s preeminent slave port before it was overtaken by Liverpool, and a statue of slaver Edward Colston was toppled in 2020 as Black Lives Matter protesters demonstrated against the legacy of the trade.