Bristol documentary to 'champion diverse voices'

Daniel Edmund wants the documentary series to make a positive change in the city

A key speaker at Bristol's Black Lives Matter protest is making a documentary to "raise awareness on the social inequalities in the city".

Daniel Edmund, who runs the social enterprise Milk for Tea, said he wanted to "champion diverse voices".

His project follows on from the protest which resulted in the toppling of the statue of slave trader Edward Colston.

"The series will help to reconcile and bring healing to the black community and other community groups," he said.

He added: "It will broaden the scope of the often narrow range of experiences the media industry promotes."

The Colston statue was thrown into Bristol's harbour during the protest on 7 June and had been a source of controversy in the city for years, with repeated calls for it to be removed.

It was recovered on 11 June and is set to become a museum exhibit, alongside protestors' placards from the demonstration.

The statue of Edward Colston was dragged through Bristol before being thrown into the harbour

The documentary series is in the early production stage, and will explore topics around gender and race inequality in the workplace, schools and healthcare systems.

Mr Edmund, who lives in Bristol and is a public speaker focussing on men's mental health, says the dialogues in each episode will aim to recognise racism existing in the UK and help make a positive change.

He was featured on TEDX Talks Bristol in 2015 and also made a video in response to the death of George Floyd.

Following the Black Lives Matter protests across the UK, Mr Edmund said he had been inspired to take a step into political leadership and would consider standing for the position of Bristol Mayor in the future."I will consider it if I find that is where I am best placed to bring about the reconciliation, healing and unity this city needs, and that means serving everyone not just those who think and look like me," he said"We need other people around the country who want to step up into that place of leadership and do it with compassion, with love and humanity, but also do it with authority, as well as unifying people."

The documentary series is currently looking for funding but hopes to be released next year.