Tearing down of Bristol's Edward Colston statue referenced at George Floyd's funeral
The tearing down of Edward Colston's statue in Bristol has been referenced at George Floyd's funeral - the man whose death has sparked global protests against racial prejudice and police brutality.
At his funeral in Houston, Texas, hundreds of mourners heard The Reverend Al Sharpton refer to the actions in Bristol.
The slave trader's memorial was pulled down by protesters during a Black Lives Matter march on Sunday 7 June before being thrown into the water.
After footage of the historic moment was shared online, Reverend Sharpton addressed it during Mr Floyd's funeral alongside calls for racial equality.
Speaking at the funeral of George Floyd, Rev. Al Sharpton referenced the 'tearing down' of Edward Colston's statue
Reverend Sharpton's reference follows days of fierce public debate about whether memorials and statues linked to oppression, the slave trade and white supremacy should be removed.
Protesters in Bristol prompted the calls for a review, after Sunday's Black Lives Matter demonstration saw supporters pull down Edward Colston's statue and roll it into the harbour.
Since then campaigners have argued that councils and universities all over the country should also take down controversial memorials.
The moment campaigners in Bristol pulled down the slave trader statue during a Black Lives Matter demonstration
At his funeral George Floyd was lovingly remembered as Big Floyd.
Mourners described him as a "gentle giant", a father, a brother, athlete, mentor - and also now a force for change in the world.
Hundreds of people attended the private service, which was held a little more than two weeks after Mr Floyd was pinned to the pavement by a white Minneapolis police officer who put a knee on his neck.
Prosecutors said the officer knelt on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds - the same amount of time demonstrators have been kneeling for in silence.
In Bristol people knelt on College Green, while in Falmouth they gathered in Kimberley Park. Similar events have been held across the West Country.