Why are statues being toppled around the world?

In the United Kingdom and the United States, statues linked to slavery are being toppled as part of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Protesters throw a statue of slave trader Edward Colston into Bristol harbour, during a Black Lives Matter protest rally. Source: AAP

Now, there are demands for the same thing to happen in Australia, with monuments tied to the degradation of First Nations people to be removed.

Kulasegaram Sanchayan reports with a feature written by Sonia Lal.