A recreation of a one man sit-in protest that helped changed race laws in the UK takes place this week. Sixty years ago in 1964, Bristol bus boycott activist Paul staged a one-man sit-in protest outside the Bay Horse pub after the manager refused to serve him.
The celebration of his actions, along with the Bristol bus boycott pioneers, whose activism was instrumental in helping bring about the first Race Relations Act into law in 1965, takes place on October 25 from 3.30pm-8pm at the city centre pub. There will be a series of short films and refreshments.
Visitors can mingle with the pioneers and see the unveiling of a plaque and new space dedicated to Paul’s legacy. The pub on Lewins Mead, Broadmead will launch a new pint on the same day dedicated to Paul, who is now 87.
On the same day an outdoor bus stop gallery will be launched across Bristol. The bus stop artwork, which celebrates the successful bus boycott campaign which took place in 1963, is the work of four Bristol school pupils.
Curiosity UnLtd, based in the Arnolfini, organised a ‘Designs4Change’ competition and the winners – all from Two Mile Hill Primary School – were Marcia Brown, Amara Lawrence, Gwen Balmer and Martha Clarke.
While these events coincide with Black History Month, they are part of a series of activities that have been taking place in Bristol over the past two years.
Curiosity UnLtd founded by Julian Davis has been involved in a number of projects to commemorate the anniversary of the Bristol bus boycott and work towards tackling racial inequality in Bristol today. The boycott came out of the refusal of the Bristol Omnibus Company to employ Black or Asian bus crews in the city
It garnered nationwide support, and the company capitulated within 60 days, on August 28, 1963, the same day Martin Luther King delivered his iconic I Have A Dream speech. Paul gained further recognition when he refused to leave the Bay Horse known for not serving Black people until he was served.
He was charged and the case went to trial, where it was dismissed thanks to an Irish witness, but not before it attracted the attention of Labour leader Harold Wilson. The future prime minister pledged to outlaw racial discrimination if his party came to power. Fortunately, the Race Relations Act was enacted in 1965, prohibiting all discrimination in public places.
Attendees need to register before October 23. For more information and to register see here.