Protestors call for boycott of cider maker over links to slave trade
PROTESTERs who backed the toppling of a statue of slaver Edward Colston have sparked further fury by calling for a boycott of a type of cider.
Thatchers cider boycott is 'ludicrous' says Farage
The Countering Colston group says a director of Thatchers is a member of a centuries-old charitable organisation which, it alleges, has “deep roots” in Bristol’s links to the slave trade. Campaigners want reminders of Colston removed from the city, including street and building names. They also claim the Bristol-based Society of Merchant Venturers “celebrates” the MP, philanthropist and slave trader who died in 1721.
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Countering Colston has launched a Don’t Buy Thatchers campaign, targeting the century-old family business based in Sandford, Somerset.
Protesters posted: “Martin Thatcher, director of the company, is a member of the Society of the Merchant Venturers. The SMV has deep roots in the historical slave trade in Bristol and its members were responsible for the suffering and death of tens of thousands of human beings.”
Fourth-generation cider maker Mr Thatcher has been a member of the private organisation – which Colston was part of – since 2012. He told website Bristol24/7 that as a “relative newcomer” he wants to bring “fresh perspective” to the private body:
“In particular as to how the SMV needs to acknowledge what has happened in the past, yet continue to do its fantastic work for people across all Bristol communities in a way fitting and relevant for our lives today.”
The SMV website says: “In the 18th century one quarter of the Society’s members were themselves involved directly in this abhorrent [slave] trade, representing approximately one fifth of the 536 slave traders in Bristol.”
Social media users vented their outrage at calls for a Thatchers boycott.
Lee Turner wrote: “Haven’t these idiots in Bristol got better things to do? The best solution for them is to just move out the city if they don’t like it. Don’t need them.”
While Charles McFarland posted: “Grow up, build a bridge and move on” and Janette Massey said: “In that case then surely they shouldn’t have sugar (slaves worked there), cotton... coffee, the list goes on.”
Benjamin Allen added: “I’ll put up with most of these woke temper tantrums, but this is where I draw the line. Stay away from Thatchers!”
Chris Tovey said of the protesters: “Maybe this is evidence that their campaign has run its course, now having to target innocent persons who had nothing to do with those in history that they find offensive.”
