Anti-Racist City Oxford stands in solidarity with Bristol
“Dear Mayor Marvin Rees,
We are writing to you to show solidarity with you and the people of Bristol in your struggle to make Bristol an anti-racist city.
Your struggle is our collective struggle.
We are residents of Oxford and members of Anti-racist City - Oxford (ARC), an anti-racism platform, bringing together people of our city to create a truly anti-racist city.
We are teachers, trade unionists, artists, writers, community organisers, and Oxford City and Oxfordshire County Councillors.
We are committed and proud anti-racists, moved and humbled by the UK and global Black Lives Matter movement for racial justice.
Following the historical protests in Bristol and the removal of Edward Colston’s statue, Oxford Rhodes Must Fall movement was re-energised, leading to Oriel College establishing a Commission to investigate the removal of the Cecil Rhodes statue and an examination of the wider legacy of Rhodes and the University on our city, a proud multicultural city.
Thousands of people have marched on the streets of our city over the past weeks to say Black Lives Matter and Rhodes Must Fall.
We were also very moved by the beautiful statue Mr Marc Quinn created of Jen Reid, called ‘A Surge of Power. We hope the council will find a way to ensure this statue remains accessible to the people of Bristol and everyone else as a strong and powerful symbol of anti-racism, hope, and humanity.
We would be interested in supporting Bristol in its anti-racism struggles and hope we can connect to do this vital work.
In solidarity,
Anti-Racist City Oxford
