Lewis Hamilton backs anti-racism protestors who threw Edward Colston's statue in the river, says 'he must not be celebrated'

Six-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has backed the anti-racism protestors who pulled down the statue of Edward Colston in Bristol while urging governments across the world to take similar action.

The protests are taking place worldwide in the wake of the death of an unarmed black man – George Floyd – in police custody in Minneapolis but in Bristol, the protestors threw the statue of Colston into the harbour.

Hamilton challenged the government officials worldwide to implement peaceful removal of racist symbols as he said the statue should stay in the river just like the 20 thousand African souls who died on their journey and their bodies were thrown into the sea.  

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Hamilton, taking to Instagram, wrote: “I challenge government officials worldwide to make these changes and implement the peaceful removal of these racist symbols.

“That man’s statue should stay in the river just like the 20 thousand African souls who died on the journey here and thrown into the sea, with no burial or memorial. He stole them from their families, country and he must not be celebrated!”

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Hamilton has been one of the highest-profile celebrities to come forward and actively support the Black Lives Matter movement and even called out his sport’s initial silence over the killing of Floyd.

F1 managing director praised Hamilton for being a great ambassador of the sport while backing him in his stance against anti-racism.

“Lewis is a great ambassador for the sport and his comments are very valid,” Brawn told Sky Sports’ The F1 Show. “We support him completely.”