The Specials guitarist Lynval Golding has revealed his feelings on the Black Lives Matter movement and toppling of the Edward Colston statue.
The ska legend told the Big Issue magazine it gave him “so much joy” to see the bronze figure of the 17th century slave trader thrown in Bristol's floating harbour by Black Lives Matter protesters on June 7.
He added he has been fighting against racism for his whole life, PA reports.
“When you look back at the marches led by Martin Luther King, the majority of people marching were black with a small group of white supporters,” he said.
“But this time, the majority are white. At long last, they are getting it right.
“Change is only going to happen if whites change it. They have the key.”
Golding said the protests have shown that love is stronger than hatred.
“So when all the kids were out protesting and were all shouting Black Lives Matter that felt so good," he said.
“Because I have fought all my life, battled all my life, to say my life matters.”
Golding said he had been left “so mad” after the Windrush controversy.
The scandal resulted in thousands of Commonwealth immigrants who came to Britain in the decades following the Second World War being wrongly denied rights, losing their jobs, and in some cases being deported to places they barely knew.
He believes Windrush Day, which is being celebrated on Monday, was “long overdue to show respect for the sweat, blood and tears West Indians put into this country”.
“It took 70 years to get recognition for my father’s generation for the work they did,” Golding said.
“And after all that, people were threatened with deportation.”
The musician said he accepts “the apology and the fact there is Windrush Day now to show respect and celebrate that generation”.
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