Edinburgh street signs given a Black Lives Matter makeover

Last Friday, anti-racism activists in Edinburgh hung up a variety of alternative street signs in support of Black Lives Matter.

These new signs represent yet another criticism of Edinburgh’s involvement in colonialism and the slave trade.

Among the street names changed was Dundas Street in New Town, which was changed from Dundas Street to “Emancipation Street.”

Dundas Street is named after Henry Dundas, an individual who pushed for “gradual abolition,” thereby delaying the end of the legalised slave trade by 15 years.

The aim is to ‘pay homage to many enslaved people whose names, lives,deaths, families, stories and deeds were erased by history’.https://t.co/3xHmMa3Rfg

— Edinburgh Evening News (@edinburghpaper) June 26, 2020

Other signs provide alternative names to streets and instead give educational statements. For example, Queensberry House in Canongate was renamed “Reparation House.”

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Definately in favour of keeping Dundas Street as Emancipation Street. https://t.co/eAzID0svj0

— James U Proctor (@JUProctor) June 26, 2020

Additionally, signs reading “Teach Colonial History” and “Honour Black Lives” were put up at James Gillespie High School and Regent Terrace respectively.

https://twitter.com/RossJesmont/status/1276476257400741888?s=20

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