BLM - Thangam Debbonaire

Roy Hackett was a civil rights hero

It was an honour to know Roy Hackett. He was a civil rights hero, rightly lauded for his leadership in the Bristol Bus Boycott and the St Paul’s Carnival, which both say so much about who we are as Bristol. He was an inspiration to so many and taught us…

Voter ID is a sinister attempt to exclude millions from UK democracy

Many of you have written to me about the Elections Bill, which had its second reading yesterday. I voted against this Bill. Unfortunately the government was able to push it through this stage, but I will continue to oppose such deeply troubling attempts to distort democracy for the Tories’ benefit.…

One year since the removal of Colston and the Black Lives Matter protests

It is now one year since the statue of slave trader Edward Colston was thrown into the harbour during the Black Lives Matter protests. To mark this occasion, and look at practical steps we can take to challenge racism and bias, I held a meeting with some of Bristol’s most…

One year on – the Colston statue goes on display at the M-Shed

One year on from the statue of slave-trader Edward Colston being pulled down during the Black Lives Matter protests and dragged to drop in the harbourside, the damaged statue has now been displayed in Bristol’s M Shed. I’m pleased that this is now the focus of a discussion for Bristol people on how…

Stephen Lawrence Day – 28 years on, institutional racism is still with us

Last year, over one thousand people wrote to me about the murder of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter protests and structural and institutional racism. Since then I have spoken to many more of you about the work that you are doing to call out injustice, to protest, and to…

Finance for Black-owned businesses

Today I hosted an event with Lloyds Bank for Black-led businesses. During my time as your MP, I have been very aware of the challenges faced by many Black businesses owners when trying to access finance. I have been asking banks to consider what they can do to change this…

Networking event for Bristol’s Black-owned businesses

As a response to Black Lives Matter, my team and I have been working on constructive ways of helping to bring about equality. This includes equality in education and employment. Talking to Black businesses owners, they tell me of great achievements they are proud of but also difficulties. One of…

Black History Month – I meet the Seven Saints of St Pauls

To mark Black History Month, I went on a little tour of the Seven Saints of St Pauls, a series of murals commemorating some of the inspirational people in Bristol’s Black community. I also met Roy Hackett, who has just been awarded an MBE for his campaigning during the Bristol…

Reflections and resources from my first event taking up Black Lives Matter

The Covid crisis has laid bare the structural inequalities in our society. The government’s report into the ‘Disparities in risk and outcome of COVID-19’ show that Black and Asian ethnic groups have the highest death rates from COVID-19. Despite the fact the report did not account for occupation, we know…

WATCH: How can we end racism and hate in Bristol?

Bristol made international news as the statue of slave trader Edward Colston was removed, but there is still more to do across the city to end racism and hate. The appalling racist attack on a young hospital worker last week reminds us that we cannot be complacent. Yesterday I held…

Beyond statues: How can we make Bristol more equal?

On Wednesday 29 July I am hosting the first of a series of events designed to look at racism and other structural inequalities in Bristol, and action we can take to make the city a more equal place. I will be joined by some of Bristol’s leading campaigners and community…

Work placement opportunity for a young person in Bristol West

This summer, I am offering a work experience placement for a Bristol-based young person for two weeks in August. Have a look below at the application details and please get in touch by email if there is anything else that would help you to know if you are interested in…

Black history should be mandatory on the school curriculum

Many of you have written to me about the need for black history to be taught at school, and to be mandatory on the national school curriculum. I agree. In this letter to Gavin Williamson, the Secretary of State for Education I urge that the government implements these calls but…

Suspend sales of riot equipment to the US: My letter to the Trade Secretary

After witnessing the excessive force American police have used on Black Lives Matter demonstrators, hundreds of people have written to me to demand the urgent suspension of exports of tear gas, rubber bullets and other riot control equipment to the US. I find any UK involvement in this brutal response…

Black Lives Matter update

Over the weekend we saw protestors in Bristol dramatically pull down the statue of Edward Colston that stood in the city centre. Colston profited from the enslavement of 84,000 African men, women and children, of whom 19,000 died on their journey. It is not right that we celebrate such a…

George Floyd’s life mattered: A Bristol perspective

Many hundreds of people have written to me about the recent terrible killing in the USA of George Floyd. First, I condemn the killing utterly. No-one who has seen the footage could possibly do anything else. A man died clearly struggling and in pain as a direct consequence of the…