Bristol's Society of Merchant Venturers has said it will 'continue to educate itself about systemic racism' and will 'never forget the 12 million enslaved human beings', after a statue of slave trader Edward Colston was pulled down in the city.
The society, which has existed formally since 1552, controlled Bristol's merchant trade and was heavily involved in the transatlantic slave trade throughout the 17th, 18th and into the 19th centuries.
Merchants were behind the erection of the statue of Edward Colston in The Centre in Bristol in 1895, and the society continues to run a large number of schools, including two named after him, in Bristol today.
A spokesperson for the Society of Merchant Venturers declined to give a view on whether they approved or disapproved of the actions of a crowd of people yesterday (June 7) who pulled down the statue.
Instead, they said: "The statue of Edward Colston has for a long time been a divisive topic in Bristol. Whether or not the city has a statue of a man known for his involvement in the Royal African Company, we must never forget the 12,000,000 enslaved human beings who were trafficked from their homes during the abhorrent transatlantic slave trade."
Only last month, Bristol Live revealed the Society of Merchant Venturers had appointed the first black person to be a member in the 468-year history, when top Bristol lawyer Marti Burgess accepted the invitation.
She told Bristol Live she did so after taking 'some time to think' whether she should or not.
The spokesperson for the Merchant Venturers also commented on the Black Lives Matter campaigns around the world.
"Millions of people have been deeply affected by the events in the USA, across the UK and in Bristol this weekend," she said.
"We must continue to educate ourselves about systemic racism.
"Through our work with schools and charities across Bristol, SMV is committed to supporting our BAME friends, colleagues, stakeholders and especially our BAME students and teachers.
"We are resolute in our determination to improve the life chances of all our students and to eliminate racism and injustice now and for the future.
"Together we have a responsibility to identify and challenge racism and inequality in all that we do and wherever we see it. We support the millions of people around the world who are taking a peaceful and powerful stand against racism and injustice instead of just standing by," she added.
