British street artist Banksy unveils new artwork for toppled statue of slave trader

British street artistBanksyhas posted an Instagram message about the statue of 17th-century slave ownerEdward Colstonin Bristol that was taken down byBlack Lives Matterprotesters last weekend.

The graffiti artist's new artwork shows protesters pulling down the statue of the 17th-century slave trader during Sunday's protest, saying their actions should be commemorated.

On Sunday, the statue that has long stood in Bristol city centre wasremoved from its plinth and rolled into the harbour.

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Banksy, who hails from Bristol, wrote: ''What should we do with the empty plinth in the middle of Bristol?''

''Here’s an idea that caters for both those who miss the Colston statue and those who don’t. We drag him out the water, put him back on the plinth, tie cable round his neck and commission some life size bronze statues of protestors in the act of pulling him down.''

The artist has publicly expressed his support of the Black Lives Matter movement, which hasescalated over the past two weeks following the death of George Floydin Minneapolis.

Floyd died after a white police officer held him down by pressing his knee into his neck for almost nine minutes on May 25. His death hassparked days of protestsaround the world.

Bansky showed his support for the movement in an Instagram post on Saturday, of a painting of a vigil candle burning an American flag.