FORMER pupils of a school named after Edward Colston have blasted its headteacher for ‘defending’ the slave trader.
Ex-students of Colston’s School in Bristol slammed Jeremy McCullough for appearing to show support for the 17th century figure in a note to parents.
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They accused him of using a “racist argument” to defend the school’s name and Edward Colston’s behaviour.
And they are calling for the school to be renamed to show support for black and ethnic minority (BAME) students in a “very racist world”.
Mr McCullough sent the email just hours after Colston’s controversial statue was torn down and dumped in the River Avon by Black Lives Matter protesters on Sunday.
The statue has now been hauled from the harbour and will be taken to a museum.
It is one of several to be targeted by anti-racism demonstrators.
Statues of Winston Churchill and Queen Victoria have also been defaced during rallies this week.
Mr McCullough’s message said: “There is no doubt that [Colston] was involved and was directly or indirectly responsible for many deaths and many ruined lives.
“Everyone in Bristol knows that this was wrong.
“However, in the Bristol of Edward Colston’s time his business interests would not have been thought of so negatively.
“Indeed, a great many people in Bristol, around the UK and all over the world, profited from this dreadful business.
“So why is Edward Colston perceived to be such a terrible figure?”
Ex-pupils were furious and one wrote a letter to the head for others to sign.
She said: “I went to Colston’s school in Bristol, yes that Colston.
“This was the headteacher’s response to the BLM movement and their removal of the Colston statue.
“He openly supports and defends the notorious slave trader.
“Myself and a few other former students have written him a letter condemning his words and inaction. Please read it and sign.”
So why is Edward Colston perceived to be such a terrible figure?
Headteacher Jeremy McCullough
The open letter addresses Mr McCullough and says his email showed a “disregard for the feelings of the BAME community” at the school.
It read: “If you do not understand why this is such a horrific thing, then you don’t understand what slavery was and how it still shapes our society today.”
Adolf Hitler and Jimmy Saville were used as reference points to argue that the school should not be named after someone whose negatives outweigh their positives.
The letter concluded: “We should not glorify the atrocities that underpin the founding of the school, but instead condemn them.
“Rename the school, give the statue to a museum, teach students the full truth of slavery and how it affects their lives today.
“Please support your BAME students in what is still a very racist world.”
Colston’s School declined to comment but Mr McCullough has since said the school is “looking into” a name change.
A statement on the school’s website said: “The name and statue of Edward Colston have been divisive topics in Bristol for a very long time and we are conscious that different people have different thoughts on whether statues should be removed or names changed.
“Many millions of people have been deeply affected by the events in the USA, across the UK and in Bristol these past few weeks and the school was already engaging with its community to see how we could contribute positively to these discussions and the anti-racist agenda.
“Events of Sunday afternoon brought this even closer to home.
“We are committed to supporting our BAME students, their families, our colleagues and other stakeholders.”
The tearing down of Colston’s statue sparked a furious debate over which people get honoured with memorials in Britain.
Hundreds could be pulled down and streets renamed after protesters drew up a “hitlist”.
A group called Topple the Racists wants statues across Britain removed to support the BLM movement.
