The organisers of today's (June 7) Black Lives Matter protest said they warned people against committing criminal damage.
Yvonne Muringi and Miles Chambers were walking home from the demonstration when they first heard about the slave trader's statue being torn down.
The pair had been campaigning for the divisive bronze figure to be removed for years but had urged people to go through the council.
"We weren't there at the time," Yvonne said. "I had no idea what was going on. We had been walking home when people started showing us on their phones these videos.
"I was surprised and shocked a little. We had advised people not to cause any criminal damage to property.
"This is something we have been campaigning for for years, but by going through the council."
Today's protest was attended by 10,000. It was peaceful and there were no arrests.
The toppling and dumping of the statue in the floating harbour was not part of the planned demonstration.
Police have now launched an investigation into the incident.
A number of key Bristol figures have spoken out in defence of the protesters.
Massive Attack posted on Twitter: "Finally. The Colston statue should never have been a public monument. It’s history could have been understood in a museum.
"The elevation of a slave trader clashed badly with our civic identity. A philanthropy derived from crimes against humanity is as hollow as the statue itself."
