Four people are set to appear in court following the toppling of a statue of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol last year.
Rhian Graham, 29, Milo Ponsford, 25, Jake Skuse, 32, and Sage Willoughby, 21, all of no fixed abode, will appear before Bristol Magistrates’ Court charged with criminal damage.
The bronze memorial to the 17th century slave merchant was pulled down during a Black Lives Matter protest on June 7 last year, before being dumped in Bristol Harbour.
It was later recovered from the water by Bristol City Council and assessed to have suffered £3,750 worth of damage.
No arrests were made at the time but Avon and Somerset Police launched an investigation and in December, the Crown Prosecution Service said it had authorised charges against four people.
Speaking ahead of the court hearing scheduled for Monday, a spokeswoman for Avon and Somerset Police said anyone planning to attend to protest against the case would be breaking the law with protests are not permitted under Covid rules.
An event was originally due to take place outside the court on Monday but organisers are now asking people to join an online protest instead, the force said.
Inspector Rob Cheeseman said: “There is no excuse for not knowing the rules as they are very clear and have been very well publicised – people must stay home except for in a very limited set of circumstances.
“Unlike during the first lockdown protests aren’t currently allowed and anyone thinking of flouting the rules and attending a protest is putting others at risk.
“We remain hopeful people will heed our warning and choose to express themselves online rather than in person but as with all events of this nature we have a comprehensive policing plan should people gather.”
Following the toppling of the statue, officers reviewed CCTV footage and other pictures and video to identify those believed to be involved.
