Bristol venue Colston Hall removes name from building ahead of title change

Bristol venue Colston Hall has begun removing the name of Colston Hall from the building ahead of a title change.

Coming a week after protestors toppled a statue of 17th century slave trader Edward Colston from outside the music and arts venue, Bristol Music Trust, who own Colston Hall, told the BBC removing the name was a "symbolic moment".

The South England venue first announced a name change three years ago, with a new title set to be announced in 2020. "We cannot continue to be a monument to his memory," the Trust added. "We have no wish to forget the past, but when we reopen our redeveloped building as one of the best arts and educational venues in the country, it must be as a place that is welcoming to everyone."

The statue was toppled after protests began in cities around the globe in the wake of the death of George Floyd. George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man from Minnesota who was killed by a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, on Monday 25th May. Footage of the arrest shows Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes, ignoring him as he repeatedly pleads, “I can’t breathe”.

The music industry and fans are among the hundreds to have donated to organisations and funds in aid of protesters in Minneapolis and black community initiatives following the killing of George Floyd.

Below, you will find some links to organisations/fundraisers you can donate to:

The George Floyd Memorial Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd

Black Visions Collective (BLVC): https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/

#JusticeforFloyd: https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/justiceforfloyd_george_floyd_minneapolis

The Minnesota Freedom Fund: https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/donate

Black Lives Matter: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019

Reclaim the Block: https://secure.everyaction.com/zae4prEeKESHBy0MKXTIcQ2