BLM - Thangam Debbonaire

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…