In 1895 a bronze statue of slave trader Edward Colston was erected on top of a stone plinth in the centre of Bristol. Colston had made large donations to charities, schools and hospitals in the city, and certain businessmen saw him as a philanthropist. A plaque beneath the statue described Colston as one of the “most virtuous and wise sons of the city”. But there was no mention anywhere that he made his fortune as a slave trader.125 years later, in 2020, the statue was still there despite many petitions to Bristol City Council for it to be removed. Then, during a demonstration, the statue was toppled and thrown in the river. Four young protesters soon find themselves in court and at the centre of an intense political and legal debate. On this episode of Bad People, Dr Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen discuss whether it is ever right to break the law and what the law itself has to say about this controversial case.

CREDITSPresenters: Dr Julia Shaw and Sofie HagenProducer: Louisa FieldAssistant Producer: Kate WhiteEditor: Anna LaceyMusic: Matt ChandlerAcademic Consultants for The Open University: Dr James Munro

Commissioning Executive: Dylan HaskinsCommissioning Assistant Producer: Adam Eland

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