Black Lives Matter: 'Urgent' review of Welsh statues, streets and building names
Wales' First Minister has ordered an urgent review of the country's statues, streets and building names to address connections with the slave trade.
The announcement follows global Black Lives Matter protests over the death of George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis in May.
As part of the movement, which has shone a light on racial inequalities around the world, there are mounting calls to replace landmarks and monuments connected to slavery.
Thousands of people have signed a petition calling for a statue of "sadistic" former slave-trader Thomas Picton to be removed from Cardiff City Hall.
Meanwhile, on June 7, a statue of slave merchant Edward Colston was pulled down during a Black Lives Matter protest in Bristol.
The Wales-wide audit will be chaired by Gaynor Legall, a leading figure in the black and minority ethnic community.
Cardiff-born Ms Legall will lead a group of experts selected for their knowledge of the slave trade, British Empire and history of black communities in Wales.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “The Black Lives Matter movement has brought to the fore a number of important issues we need to address as a country.
"One is the need for Wales to reflect on the visible reminders of the country’s past. This is especially true when we look at the horrors of the slave trade.
“Some of our historic buildings are reminders of this painful period of our history. Some may appear to make heroes of historical figures whose actions we now condemn. Individuals connected to the slave trade may be remembered in street names or the names of public buildings. They are commemorations of a past that we have not fully challenged and that we should challenge now.
“This is not about rewriting the past – it is about reflecting it with the justice it deserves. If done in the right way, we can create a richer and more informed relationship with our history. We can find new stories and figures to celebrate. We can reflect a Wales that rightfully celebrates our diverse communities. This is what our past deserves and our present so rightfully demands.”
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