The Rag ‘n’ Bone Man’s sister and half-sister were some of those activists who were acquitted for criminal damage caused by tearing down Edward Colston’s statue in 2020.
Rhian Graham, 30, Milo Ponsford, 26, Sage Willoughby, 22, and Jake Skuse, 33, were cleared of all criminal damage charges at Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday.
On June 7, 2020, a wave of Black Lives Matter protests saw the removal of the bronze memorial for 17-century merchant in Bristol.
The remains were later dumped into the harbour by anti-racism demonstrators, which was another that took place in the aftermath of George Floyd’s assassination in Minneapolis.
On Wednesday, we learned more about the background of four protesters.
Graham claims online she is the half-sister and performer of Rory Graham’s Rag & Bone Man.
Ponsford works as a carpenter and lives in a motorhome, whilst Willoughby said in court that he had been signing petitions to have the statue removed ‘since he was 11 years old’.
Rhian Graham (left), 30, who has been acquitted along with Milo Ponsford, 26, Sage Willoughby, 22, and Jake Skuse, 33, of criminal damage after pulling down the statue of slave trader Edward Colston in 2020 is the half-sister of pop star the Rag ‘n’ Bone Man (right)
According to Mandy.com’s jobs page, Ms. Graham provided the rope used in pulling the statue down. She also stated that she had been singing and dancing since she was young and, more recently, she performed as an aerial hoop artist.
LinkedIn added the following statement from the Bristol resident: “I love any circus, festivals, and creating temporary spaces that people can experience.”
She holds a degree in Arts and Event Management from Arts University Bournemouth.
Graham claimed during her trial she signed petitions calling to have the Colston statue removed before she was involved in tearing it down.
According to her, she didn’t have any background in politics or activism at the time. However, since 2019, she had “…”It was easier to find friends with a greater passion for equality, history, and politics.
“I felt embarrassed about my knowledge and decided to engage with more people in the world.
Graham added: “Having grown-up in a predominantly black neighborhood in Norfolk, I have experienced a lot more casual racism, homophobia, and sexism.
“I don’t consider myself racist, but I realized the reality of black people’s lives and felt like I was a horrible ally. I wish I could have done more to help them.
On June 7, 2017, the bronze monument to 17-century merchant Edward Colston was taken down during Black Lives Matter protests. It was then later dumped into the harbour.
Willoughby, pictured following Wednesday’s verdict, said that he has been signing petitions for the removal of the statue’since the age 11′.
“I realized the privilege that comes with my skin colour made me realize how I had to be there for the black community,” she stated.
Willoughby (also from Bristol) is the youngest among the quartet.
Willoughby, however, was not arrested in his motorhome at the time that Ponsford was overturned. He attended an interview by police on his own initiative.
The trial took place at Bristol Crown Court. Jurors were told that Willoughby was a skilled climber and had attached a rope to the neck of the statue before Ponsford, Graham, and others pulled the ropes.
Willoughby claimed in court that he has been signing petitions to remove the statue’since the age of 11′. He added that it was an ‘act love, not violence’.
He stated that he was born in St Pauls, Bristol’s largest Afro-Caribbean area.
As a result, he said he believed having the statue of Colston in the city was an ‘insult’ and he would continue to believe that whatever the outcome of this [trial].’
Ponsford claimed during the trial that his personality was “usually a reserved, professional individual.”
Ponsford, pictured second from the right (second picture) is a carpenter who lives in a motorhome.
He also provided the second rope, which was used to lift the Colston statue off of its plinth on June 7.
Later, he was seen trying to grab Colston’s staff out of his hands by jumping onto the statue.
Skuse was also from Bristol but did not participate in the toppling. However, Skuse was charged with criminal damages after helping to transport the statue to Bristol’s harbor, where it was dropped into the sea.
During trial, he claimed he attempted to “sentence the statue until his death” before tossing the object into the harbour.
He said he didn’t see the original toppling. However, he later arrived and became absorbed in the hype of the moment.
Skuse claimed that he felt the need to put the statue into the water because his foot was hurting from the hard bronze monument.
The activist acknowledged that he knew little about Colston except for conversations with friends and the plaque at the statue’s base.
He spoke outside the court with protestors holding banners saying ‘we toppled Colston’ or ‘Glad Colston’s gone’. Mr Willoughby denies that they are trying to change history.
He said: ‘We didn’t change history, they were whitewashing history by calling (Colston) a f****** virtuous man – sorry to swear.
Skuse stated that the idea to cast the statue in water came after Skuse’s ‘foot got sore’ from trying to kick the bronze monument.
“We did not change the past, but we made it right.”
“This victory is for Bristol. This victory is for racial equity. It’s for anyone who wishes to stand on the right side.
Ms. Graham spoke outside court and said that she was overwhelmed by the jury’s decisions.
She continued, “I’m so overwhelmed. It never felt like it was possible for us to get here.” Because we were never alone on this journey, and have received so much support throughout this process, we just wanted to thank everyone.
“There were so many people there that day and it was reverberating around the globe in response.”
Colston monuments have been given new names after the statue fell.
Ms Graham explained that it was a big learning for her to be able to exercise agency over her own life.
“All of us have the right to decide how we decorate and venerate our spaces, and we all know that Colston is not representative of Bristol.
Colston vandals are cleared: After being acquitted on criminal damage for toppling Edward Colston’s statue, gleeful BLM activists thanks Banksy. It has sparked anger that the jury gave a “green light” to political vandalism.
MailOnline by Harry Howard and Jacob Thorburn
Frustrated campaigners have condemned the decision to release four individuals who have admitted that they were involved in the desecration of Edward Colston’s historic slave trading statue during the Black Lives Matter demonstrations of 2020.
Rhian Graham, 30, Milo Ponsford, 26, Sage Willoughby, 22, and Jake Skuse, 33, were cleared of all criminal damage charges at Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday after requesting that the trial be heard in front of a jury.
The bronze memorial to the 17th century merchant was pulled down in Bristol on June 7, 2020 and was later dumped in the harbour during an anti-racism demonstration, one of the many that swept the globe in the wake of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Following Wednesday’s announcement of the verdict, Ms Graham acknowledged that her group were “ecstatic” at the outcome and said they had “illuminated historical history by toppling this statue”.
Four defendants chose to not have their cases handled by a district court judge or magistrates’ courts. They opted instead to have their case heard by the Bristol Crown Court jury, well-known for its activist nature.
Outside of court, Mr Willoughby took to the streets with an expletive-laden tirade as he also justified the actions. ‘We didn’t change history, they were whitewashing history by calling him a f***ing virtuous man, sorry to swear, we didn’t change history, we rectified history,’ he said.
Skuse, in a black baseball cap, stated that the verdict was “for once the right choice” and thanked Banksy, a graffiti artist, for creating limited-edition t-shirts they wore outside of court.
Ponsford extended a big thank you to jurors who were ‘on the right side’ of history.
Critics reaffirmed the argument of the prosecution that this case is about law, not politics. They expressed concern that the verdict for not guilty would be a precedent for vandalism or dangerous identity politics.
The campaign group Save Our Statues responded to the clearing of the accused by tweeting: ‘Colston statue charged defy justice. Verdict allows political vandalism to continue, as well as legitimizes divisive identities it has helped foster.
Darren Grimes, Conservative Commentator, said: “I can’t believe the news that those who toppled Edward Colston’s statue were not found guilty of criminal damage.”
“Are we now really a country that can desecrate public property so long as it’s being used for noble political causes?”
Photographs taken outside of the courtroom capture Sage Willoughby (left to right), Jake Skuse and Milo Ponsford celebrating after they received a not guilty verdict from Bristol Crown Court on January 5, 2022, in Bristol, England
Rhian Graham, Jake Skuse and Milo Ponsford speak out after they were convicted. Mr Willoughby said: ‘He proudly announced: ‘We didn’t change history, they were whitewashing history by calling him a f***ing virtuous man, sorry to swear, we didn’t change history, we rectified history’
Milo Ponsford & Rhian Graham were captured smiling and laughing in the courtyard. Ms Graham spoke out after the verdict had been announced and said that defendants admitted that they were delighted by the outcome.
Sage Willoughby kneels to celebrate the decision in his favor. Criticisms reacted vehemently to the defense’s claim that the case was about rule of law and politics.
Graham, Ponsford, and Willoughby are accused of pulling down the monument. Skuse, however, allegedly orchestrated its being rolled into the water and then thrown in.
Even though the trial was centered around the criminal damage case, the defense claimed the protestors’ actions are justified. One point, they even urged members of juries to be on the right side.
Defense claimed that the statue had been erected to commemorate a man who, although he was repeatedly attacked, prospered through the slavery trade.
The decision to acquit the defendants also raises the question of who will now pay the estimated £3,750 in damage that was done to the statue after it was torn from its plinth.
A further £350 charge also applies to fix the damaged railings of Pero’s Bridge.
It’s been hard to believe that this day is coming. I felt hopeless for so long, and had to be realistic about the possibility of it happening. However, here we are. “Just thank you. Thank you so much that you sat and listened,” said Ms Graham.
The protestors insisted that the statue was destroyed and they did so during the trial. However, their claims were not supported by the fact that the statue had been hateful to the Bristolians.
They laughed when they were released from criminal damage cases and hugged witnesses as they exited the courtroom.
Speaking outside court on Wednesday, Ms Graham said: ‘We are ecstatic and stunned. It was so overwhelming that I had to try and write something for this moment. We never thought we would get there, but we are now.
“There were so many people on that day. There was a ripple effect across the globe. It’s all thanks to key people like our legal team, who are truly amazing. We are so grateful to them for helping us get through.
“Everybody was there, the 10,000 who marched down the streets of Bristol to show their love for equality.
“All the rope-pullers. The statue-climbers. Rollers. Egg-throwers. Rollers. All those people are incredulous. But the international toppers – people who went to their locality and created change.
“One thing we now know is that Colston doesn’t represent Bristol.”
Ms Graham stated that this was one of the most important lessons she has learned, being able take control over my life.
“We each have the power to decorate our spaces and honor those we love and celebrate, but one thing is certain: Colston doesn’t represent Bristol.
He denied that the group tried to change history.
He said: ‘We didn’t change history, they were whitewashing history by calling (Colston) a f****** virtuous man – sorry to swear.
“We did not change the past, but we made it right.”
He said, “This victory is for Bristol. This victory is for racial equity and it is for anyone who wishes to be on right side of the history.”
Many prominent personalities supported the defendants. This included Professor David Olusoga (TV historian, author), who presented expert evidence about the history and slavery.
Cleo Lake, a former Bristol mayor and lord of Bristol came before the court to tell her story about her struggle to remove Colston’s photograph from her office. Banksy created a limited edition T-shirt for Banksy to help raise money for the defendants.
At trial, Colston’s prosecution stated that it was irrelevant who Colston was and that the case involved only criminal damage.
Tom Wainwright for Mr Ponsford stated that the fall of the statue had helped heal slavery’s wounds. He accused the prosecution and jurors of inviting them to ‘pick these wounds one more time’.
For Mr Willoughby Liam Walker told the jury that their decision would “reverberate all over the globe” and encouraged them to ‘be on the right side history’.
Chief Superintendent Liz Hughes of Somerset and Avon was one of Avon’s top police officers. She stated that she respected the verdict and felt that they had done their best to provide the evidence. They have taken that decision.
She said that the case had prompted a lot more dialogue around equality in the city and that she hopes that positive actions will result from those conversations. But, she also stated that, ‘in law’, “there was never a clear offense of criminal damage during our investigation.”
The jury was presented with the verdict by Judge Peter Blair QC. He reminded them to ignore the hype and focus on the evidence.
Around 10,000 people set out on June 7th from College Green, Bristol Cathedral in direction to the Colston statue.
Milo Ponsford and Sage Willoughby left; Jake Skuse right in mask; Rhian Graham right were all cleared at Bristol Crown Court Wednesday of all charges for criminal damage.
On June 7, 2017, the bronze monument to 17th-century merchant Edward Colston was taken down during Black Lives Matter protests. It was then later removed from the harbour.
Following the trial’s high profile, the group addressed media.
After the verdict was returned by Bristol Crown Court, four of the defendants cheered outside. Pictured from left to right: Sage Willoughby, Jake Skuse, Milo Ponsford and Rhian Graham
“It has felt so far away for a while, I always felt hopeful and had to keep my feet on the ground knowing it could have ended in any way. However, here we are. After the announcement, Ms Graham said, “Just thank you. Thank you so much for listening.”
Rhian Graham appears at the press conference held in Bristol after Jake Skuse, Milo Ponsford and Sage Willoughby were cleared from criminal damage
Ms Graham acknowledged that the group was ‘ecstatic’ at the verdict of the jury and said they had “illuminated the history” by toppling the statue
Four people were acquitted after they admitted to having been involved in the demolition of Edward Colston’s historic slave trading statue during Black Lives Matter demonstrations.
Summary of the case before the jury made their verdict. Judge Peter Blair (pictured) reminds the jury not to listen to the hype and instead rely on the evidence presented before them
Protestors, shouting “pull it Down, pull it down”, wrapped ropes around bronze artifacts and tossed them into the harbour.
In response to George Floyd’s death, which was a result of the US police shooting of him, the Bristol protest was one of many.
A website called Topple the Racists created an interactive map later that identified 125 statues whose alleged connections to slavery.
Raj Chada who represented Jake Skuse made the following statement after the verdict: “The truth is that they should not have been prosecuted.”
“It was shameful that Bristol City Council failed to remove the statue of Edward Colston, a slaver who had offended people in Bristol. Equally shameful is the fact that they later supported prosecutions of these defendants.
Rhian Graham’s Blinne N Ghralaigh said that this case demonstrated the essential importance of trial by jury.
Colston served as the Royal African Company’s vice governor. But his legacy from Bristol is being quickly erased
“This is because juries are the collective sense and justice of the community.
“In this instance, they decided that a conviction to remove this statue, which glorified a slave dealer in the enslavement and death of more than 84,000 black people, women, and children, would not be proportionate.
Colston was a long-standing topic of debate in Bristol. He donated generously to charities using his fortune from the investment in the slavery-trading Royal African Company.
He was left at the bottom last year and spent a few days there. City authorities then retrieved his statue and stored it.
Although it had been displayed at Bristol’s M Shed Museum since summer, officials last week announced that the museum would put it back in storage starting January 3.
Edward Colston: A merchant and slave trader, who was once considered Bristol’s greatest son
Edward Colston played an integral part in the Royal African Company which held complete control over Britain’s slavery trade.
Edward Colston was the son of a Bristol merchant family, in 1636.
He began his apprenticeship at a livery firm and then started his own company.
Later, he joined the Royal African Company. He rose to the rank of Deputy Governor.
British slave trade was under the Company’s complete control, along with its gold, Ivory, and Ivory businesses with Africa, and forts off the coast of West Africa.
During his tenure at the Company his ships transported around 80,000 slaves from Africa to the Caribbean and America.
Around 20.000 of these people, with a further 3,000 children or more, were killed during their journey.
Thomas Colston, Colston’s brother supplied the glass beads used in the purchase of the slaves.
Colston, the Conservative MP for Bristol was created in 1710 by Colston but he didn’t serve a term because of his old age or ill health.
A lot of the wealth he accumulated from slave trading was used by him to construct schools and almshouses for his city.
In his honor, a statue was built.
After years of campaigning and artists boycotts, the venue finally agreed to take down all references to the trader after protests.
A plaque was placed on a monument to Colston that is located in Bristol. It reads: “Erected by the citizens of Bristol as an honor of one of our most noble and wise sons.”
The statue of Colston, which overlooked the harbour, was demolished in 2020 in response to the Black Lives Matter protests that were sparked in America by George Floyd’s death.