Bristol Aims To Become UK’s first Capital of Civil Rights
The bid launches at the Talks4Change: Pioneers Of Progress Summit
With Bristol, known historically as a city standing up for human rights, it’s a natural progression that it launches a bid to become the UK’s first Capital of Civil Rights.
But despite how Bristol is often viewed nationally as a place where civil rights was born, conversations around ‘race, leadership and civic responsibility’ have never been more ‘urgent’, organisers of the summit launching the bid say.
The bid to become the UK’s first Capital of Civil Rights is being launched at Talks4Change: Pioneers Of Progress. It will see a whole host of events and entertainment taking place in one evening at the Wills Memorial Building in November.
The event is the latest in a line of initiatives for the Bristol Bus Boycott 360 campaign. It’s a series of events that has been running in the city, spearheaded by the Curiosity UnLtd think tank.
“This moment calls for leadership with legacy in mind – collaboration that outlives campaigns and creates measurable, lasting change. We’re inviting the UK’s most visionary organisations to join us in shaping the next 100 years of civil rights – starting now,” Julz Davis, Disruptor-in-Chief at Curiosity Un(Ltd) says.
So far, more than 90 public and private sector partners have supported the campaign, who have come together to co-create a ‘citywide blueprint for racial equity, civic leadership and legislative change.’
The November event will mark 60 years since the Race Relations Act 1965. It will pay tribute to Paul Stephenson, a civil rights campaigner that led the boycott of the Bristol Omnibus Company – the Bristol Bus Boycott – in 1963. He went on to further boycotts and campaigns and has become iconic for his role in laying the foundations for the first Race Relations Act.
Included in the Talks4Change: Pioneers Of Progress, will be an official launch of a new civic framework. It is expected that this initiative will culminate in 2027. This is to coincide with the 100 year celebration of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His son – American human rights activist – Dr. Martin Luther King III is expected to headline commemorations in Bristol.
At this year’s event, the UK’s first Black Cabinet Minister Lord Paul Boateng will be in conversation with former Bristol Mayor Lord Marvin Rees.
Rees was Europe’s first elected mayor of African heritage right here in Bristol.
Audiences attending the event will see the global campaign launch put Bristol as the UK Capital of Civil Rights right on the map. It’s been backed by Martin Luther King III.
As well as the conversation between Lord Paul Boateng and Lord Marvin Rees OBE, there will be an exclusive message from Ministry of Equalities Seema Malthotra.
One of the leading protestors behind the Bristol Bus Boycott, Guy Bailey, will also be addressing the audience.
Other key people taking part includes Author of I Can’t Breathe, Mervyn Weir, the founder of the Black Business Initiative Darren Miller, the CEO of Black South West Network Sado Jirde, the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Reparative & Civic Futures Marie-Annick Gournet and founder of Black2Nature Mya-Rose Craig.
The audience will also enjoy a performance by the Renewal Choir. The Gospel choir was originally co-founded by the son of Bristol’s very first Black bus driver. And, Sukina Noor, the Bristol Poet Laureate will be taking to the stage with a spoken word piece.
Talks4Change: Pioneers of Progress summit takes place on Tuesday 11 November 2025 at the Wills Memorial Building
For more information or to book, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/talks4change-pioneers-of-progress-tickets-1770878678799?aff=oddtdtcreator
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