Live coverage: Black Lives Matter march in Bristol

A march is taking place in Bristol today, in solidarity with protests in the USA following the death of George Floyd.

The Bristol Black Lives Matter protest is being organised in conjunction with marches in London, Manchester and Glasgow in a unified response to systematic racism and police brutality.

The peaceful protest will begin at 1pm on College Green with speeches from prominent black Bristolians, with a march through the city commencing at 2pm.

A #BristolTakeTheKnee protest will also be taking place online, for those who cannot attend the march.

Scroll down for updates:

5.02pm
That’s the end of today’s live coverage. Thank you all for reading. We’ll see you at the next protest.

4.41pm
The location of the statue has already been changed on Google.

https://twitter.com/selfisoceles/status/1269650585307004929

4.39pm
Read more: Protesters topple Colston’s statue amid jubilant scenes in Bristol

4.28pm
Read more: In photos: Sunday’s Black Lives Matter march

Photo: Phil Riley

4.21pm
Crowds are still in Castle Park. Speeches are ongoing.

4.13pm
“A better world is possible.”

Photo: Ellie Pipe

4.10pm
The moment Colston’s statue was pushed into the water.

4.06pm
“I’ve been waiting all my life for this moment”, says one activist.

4.04pm

https://twitter.com/KGravil/status/1269645656269959169

4pm
Protesters push the statue into the water.

3.56pm
Placards have been left where Colston statue once stood.

3.50pm
The statue is being rolled towards the harbourside.

3.45pm
Google Maps already lists the Colston statue as “permanently closed”.

https://twitter.com/jackfifield/status/1269640062079303680

3.41pm
Activists graffiti Colston’s statue.

3.32pm
Protesters knelt on the neck of the toppled statue of Colston for a symbolic eight minutes.

Photo: Martin Booth

3.25pm
It appears that the march has come to an end in Castle Park.

3.16pm
People rest in Castle Park following the march, which has become fractured following the fall of the Colston statue.

Photo: Ellie Pipe

3.09pm
Speakers continue to take the stage.

A speaker upon what was the Colston statue. Photo: Phil Riley

3.04pm
Elsewhere, the march keeps heading through Castle Park.

Photo: Ellie Pipe

3.02pm

2.54pm
Crowds watch the speeches.

Photo: Phil Riley

2.52pm
Speeches are now taking place where Colston’s statue used to be.

Photo: Martin Booth

2.48pm
Colston’s statue is pulled down.

https://twitter.com/_jackgrey/status/1269625428400132096

2.41pm
Protesters head into Castle Park and onto Wine Street.

Photo: Phil Riley

2.39pm
The march reaches Castle Park.

2.36pm
The socially distanced march continues to Old Market and towards Castle Park.

Photo: Phil Riley

2.29pm
Motorists show their support.

Photo: Phil Riley

2.20pm
Protesters hold signs by the fountains.

Photo: Ellie Pipe

2.17pm
Police watch the protest.

Photo: Phil Riley

2.16pm
Someone has covered up Colston’s statue.

Photo: Ellie Pipe

2.14pm
The march heads through the city centre.

Photo: Ellie Pipe

2.13pm
Volunteers hand out PPE to protesters.

Photo: Phil Riley

2.10pm 
The march begins.

2.02pm
A silence falls on College Green for eight minutes.

Photo: Ellie Pipe

The eight minutes silence is emotional for many of those people here on College Green. Photo: Martin Booth

1.55pm
A silence is being held and speakers are reading out the names of those who have lost their lives.

1.54pm
Black Lives Matter posters hang in the windows above the Tesco on College Green.

Photo: Phil Riley

1.50pm
Activists show their support for speakers, who reiterate that all donation made today will go to Changing Minds at the Malcolm X Centre.

The march through the city centre is due to begin in ten minutes.

Photo: Ellie Pipe

1.44pm
The Bristol Somali Community Association says “the UK is not innocent”.

1.41pm
Bristol City Council posts a photo of the crowd taken from City Hall.

1.36pm
Speeches continue on College Green.

Photo: Ellie Pipe

1.30pm
Packed crowds on College Green listen to speakers.

Photo: Ellie Pipe

1.25pm
Protesters are abiding social distancing guidelines.

Photo: Ellie Pipe

1.18pm
The crowd on College Green applaud the speakers in front of City Hall.

Photo: Martin Booth

1.16pm
Previous lord mayor Cleo Lake is live streaming the events on Facebook, with help from friends.

https://www.facebook.com/cleo.lake/posts/10156987568915966

1.14pm
A steady stream of people are making their way to College Green.

Photo: Ellie Pipe

1.12pm
There will be an eight minute silence at around 2pm, says a speaker. She also reminds everyone that today is a peaceful protest , and any violence will reflect badly on them.

1.10pm
Speeches are beginning on College Green:

12.55pm
Bristol City Council encourages people to #TakeTheKnee today, take a photo and upload it to social media.

12.46pm
Anyone attending today’s march is asked to follow social distancing guidelines, were PPE and to self-isolate for two weeks following the protest.

12.43pm
Today’s protest will be raising money for Changing Mindsets, based at the Malcom X Centre. A community youth group, Changing Minds supports 30 of Bristol’s young adults with their journey to a positive and independent life.

12.36pm
Black Lives Matter art in Stokes Croft.

12.31pm
Organisers are wearing high vis vests and red lanyards.

Photo: Tiffany Lyre

12.27pm
Activists are beginning to arrive on College Green.

Photo: Martin Booth

12.23pm
A sign has been placed on the statue of Colston in the city centre.

12.02pm
A #BristolTakeTheKnee protest has begun online.

11.53am
Roads that will close include:

• Anchor Road
• Baldwin Street
• Broad Weir
• Deanery Road
• High Street
• Lewins Mead
• Newgate
• Park Street
• Penn Street
• Rupert Street
• St Augustine’s Parade
• The Horsefair
• Union Street
• Wine Street

Image: Bristol City Council

11.30am
Good morning and welcome to today’s live blog, as we cover the Black Lives Matter protest taking place in Bristol.

All details for today’s march can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/events/1240925162922800

Main photo: Martin Booth

Read more: Nine-year-old schoolgirl writes poem calling for racial equality