British street artist Banksy has designed T-shirts to help protesters facing trial over the removal of a slave trader statue.

He took to Instagram and wrote "People of colour are being failed by the system. The white system."

"Like a broken pipe flooding the apartment of the people living downstairs. This faulty system is making their life a misery, but it's not their job to fix it.... this is a white problem."

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He called the T-shirts his souvenir to "mark the occasion" of the trial of the people who toppled the statue of Edward Colston.

They cost £25 ($33) and will be available in several outlets of Bristol.

Anti-racism protesters who tore down a statue honouring a slave trader in a British port city have fuelled a hot global debate over how to deal with monuments to historic figures who profited from enslaving African people.

Famously called the ‘Colston Four,’ they include Rhian Graham, Jake Skuse, Sage Willoughby, and Milo Ponsford.

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The toppling of the statue of Edward Colston, who made a fortune in the 17th century from trading in West African slaves, was condemned as petty vandalism by critics, while others hailed it as affirmative action against racist ideologies.

"It was an absolutely incredible feat that really shows the importance of us knowing our history," said Aliyah Hasinah, a curator and spokeswoman for protest group Black Lives Matter UK.

"Public art absolutely has an impact on our imagination and what we believe is at the core of our society because it's what we hail as important," she said.

"That's why so many people politely petitioned to get the Colston statue removed ... They weren't listened to, so the city of Bristol made their voices heard in another way."

Colston's statue was pulled down by protesters joining a wave of worldwide demonstrations against racial inequality triggered by the death of unarmed black man George Floyd at the hands of US&nbsp;police.

But the debate over building and monuments named after people involved in the trans-Atlantic slave trade has been brewing for some years fuelled by the world's recently adopted drive to end modern slavery.

Campaigners had previously called for the statue,&nbsp;still bearing a plaque describing Colston as "virtuous and wise,"&nbsp;to be removed, but had failed to persuade the authorities.

(With inputs from agencies)

British street artist Banksy has designed T-shirts to help protesters facing trial over the removal of a slave trader statue. He took to Instagram and wrote "People of colour are being failed by the system.

British street artist Banksy has designed T-shirts to help protesters facing trial over the removal of a slave trader statue. He took to Instagram and wrote "People of colour are being failed by the system. The white system." "Like a broken pipe flooding the apartment of the people living downstairs. This faulty system is making their life a misery, but it's not their job to fix it.... this is a white problem." Also read | 'Love is in the Bin:' British artist Banksy's half-shredded picture sells for record $25 million He called the T-shirts his souvenir to "mark the occasion" of the trial of the people who toppled the statue of Edward Colston. They cost £25 ($33) and will be available in several outlets of Bristol. Anti-racism protesters who tore down a statue honouring a slave trader in a British port city have fuelled a hot global debate over how to deal with monuments to historic figures who profited from enslaving African people. Famously called the ‘Colston Four,’ they include Rhian Graham, Jake Skuse, Sage Willoughby, and Milo Ponsford. Also read | Say what? Christopher Walken painted over a real Banksy piece for a TV show The toppling of the statue of Edward Colston, who made a fortune in the 17th century from trading in West African slaves, was condemned as petty vandalism by critics, while others hailed it as affirmative action against racist ideologies. "It was an absolutely incredible feat that really shows the importance of us knowing our history," said Aliyah Hasinah, a curator and spokeswoman for protest group Black Lives Matter UK. "Public art absolutely has an impact on our imagination and what we believe is at the core of our society because it's what we hail as important," she said. "That's why so many people politely petitioned to get the Colston statue removed ... They weren't listened to, so the city of Bristol made their voices heard in another way." Colston's statue was pulled down by protesters joining a wave of worldwide demonstrations against racial inequality triggered by the death of unarmed black man George Floyd at the hands of US police. But the debate over building and monuments named after people involved in the trans-Atlantic slave trade has been brewing for some years fuelled by the world's recently adopted drive to end modern slavery. Campaigners had previously called for the statue, still bearing a plaque describing Colston as "virtuous and wise," to be removed, but had failed to persuade the authorities. (With inputs from agencies)

British street artist Banksy designs T-shirts to help ‘Colston Four’ protesters raise funds

The statue of slave trader Edward Colston that was toppled last month has been replaced with a sculpture of the black woman who helped it to pull down. The sculpture was erected on Wednesday without permission and&nbsp;titled&nbsp;"A Surge of Power".&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h6><img alt="WRRG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="209e7571-f4e6-41d1-9212-2e8e52ca48c8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Ec8cY8PXsAEZeYp.jpg" />&nbsp; 
Jen Ried during Black Lives Matter protests in Bristol. (@LeftWingSociety/Twiiter)&nbsp;</h6>

The black woman belongs to the&nbsp;"Black Lives Matter" (BLM) protester Jen Reid. A photo made rounds on the internet where she was seen with her fist raised, occupying the plinth where the Edward Colston stood before crowds threw it into Bristol harbour in southwest England.

<img alt="knm" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e98b5a68-c55d-4278-8c5b-d0fcb8d66367" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2813%29_18.jpg" />

The sculpture was created by artist Marc Quinn and was erected without the knowledge of Bristol City Council. Reid attended the unveiling and told The Guardian newspaper that it was "just incredible".

"This is going to continue the conversation. I can't see it coming down in a hurry," she said.

<img alt="et" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c9b847ba-4de0-4e59-bffb-d9a7f100e77a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2812%29_18.jpg" />

Previously, a local authority had said that decision to replace the Colston statue would be taken locally, this view reinforced by Bristol mayor Marvin Rees on Wednesday.

In a statement, he said: "The sculpture that has been installed today was the work and decision of a London-based artist. It was not requested and permission was not given for it to be installed."

"The future of the plinth and what is installed on it must be decided by the people of Bristol."

According to the council, a commission will be set up to study and discover the "true history" of Bristol as it was one of the cities in the UK to be involved with the slave trade during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Colston's statue was erected in 1895 until its toppling during the Black Lives Matters protests after an African American George Floyd was killed by police in the US state of Minnesota in May.

The statue of slave trader Edward Colston that was toppled last month has been replaced with a sculpture of the black woman who helped it to pull down. The sculpture was erected on Wednesday without permission and titled "A Surge of Power".

The statue of slave trader Edward Colston that was toppled last month has been replaced with a sculpture of the black woman who helped it to pull down. The sculpture was erected on Wednesday without permission and titled "A Surge of Power". Jen Ried during Black Lives Matter protests in Bristol. (@LeftWingSociety/Twiiter) The black woman belongs to the "Black Lives Matter" (BLM) protester Jen Reid. A photo made rounds on the internet where she was seen with her fist raised, occupying the plinth where the Edward Colston stood before crowds threw it into Bristol harbour in southwest England. The sculpture was created by artist Marc Quinn and was erected without the knowledge of Bristol City Council. Reid attended the unveiling and told The Guardian newspaper that it was "just incredible". "This is going to continue the conversation. I can't see it coming down in a hurry," she said. Previously, a local authority had said that decision to replace the Colston statue would be taken locally, this view reinforced by Bristol mayor Marvin Rees on Wednesday. In a statement, he said: "The sculpture that has been installed today was the work and decision of a London-based artist. It was not requested and permission was not given for it to be installed." "The future of the plinth and what is installed on it must be decided by the people of Bristol." According to the council, a commission will be set up to study and discover the "true history" of Bristol as it was one of the cities in the UK to be involved with the slave trade during the 17th and 18th centuries. Colston's statue was erected in 1895 until its toppling during the Black Lives Matters protests after an African American George Floyd was killed by police in the US state of Minnesota in May.

'A surge of power': BLM protester's sculpture replaces slave trader Edward Colston

Anti-racism protesters in the English city of Bristol tore down the controversial statue of slave trader Edward Colston

Protesters in Bristol bring down Edward Colston's statue