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| Bristol Bus Boycott: Civil rights campaigner Dr Paul Stephenson dies aged 87 | |
| (3 months later) | |
| Dr Paul Stephenson led the Bristol Bus Boycott in 1963 | Dr Paul Stephenson led the Bristol Bus Boycott in 1963 |
| A civil rights campaigner who led the Bristol Bus Boycott in 1963 has died at the age of 87, his family say. | A civil rights campaigner who led the Bristol Bus Boycott in 1963 has died at the age of 87, his family say. |
| Dr Paul Stephenson OBE organised the boycott which overturned a ban on people from ethnic minorities working on buses in the city and was instrumental in paving the way for the first Race Relations Act in 1965. | Dr Paul Stephenson OBE organised the boycott which overturned a ban on people from ethnic minorities working on buses in the city and was instrumental in paving the way for the first Race Relations Act in 1965. |
| In a statement, his family said he passed away on Saturday evening after a "courageous battle" with Parkinson's disease and dementia. | In a statement, his family said he passed away on Saturday evening after a "courageous battle" with Parkinson's disease and dementia. |
| They described him as "a passionate advocate for equality, tirelessly working to dismantle the barriers of discrimination". | They described him as "a passionate advocate for equality, tirelessly working to dismantle the barriers of discrimination". |
| “It is with a heavy heart that Stephenson family share the passing of our beloved father, Dr Paul Stephenson, a true pioneer in the civil rights movement," his family said. | “It is with a heavy heart that Stephenson family share the passing of our beloved father, Dr Paul Stephenson, a true pioneer in the civil rights movement," his family said. |
| "He left this world on the evening of 2 November 2024, after a courageous battle with Parkinson's disease and dementia, which he faced with the same unwavering determination that defined his life. | "He left this world on the evening of 2 November 2024, after a courageous battle with Parkinson's disease and dementia, which he faced with the same unwavering determination that defined his life. |
| "We have been immensely fortunate to witness first-hand the profound impact Dr Paul Stephenson had on our community and our nation." | "We have been immensely fortunate to witness first-hand the profound impact Dr Paul Stephenson had on our community and our nation." |
| 'His spirit will live on' | 'His spirit will live on' |
| Dr Stephenson, the son of an African father and mixed race British mother, arrived in Bristol in 1962. | Dr Stephenson, the son of an African father and mixed race British mother, arrived in Bristol in 1962. |
| He organised a boycott of the Bristol Omnibus Company, after which its policy of discrimination was ended. | He organised a boycott of the Bristol Omnibus Company, after which its policy of discrimination was ended. |
| He was made an OBE in 2009 for his services to equal opportunities and to community relations and had a train named after him in 2020. | He was made an OBE in 2009 for his services to equal opportunities and to community relations and had a train named after him in 2020. |
| Dr Stephenson is survived by his daughter, Fumi, and his son, Paul Jr. | Dr Stephenson is survived by his daughter, Fumi, and his son, Paul Jr. |
| What was behind the Bristol bus boycott? | What was behind the Bristol bus boycott? |
| Bristol bus boycott 50 years on | Bristol bus boycott 50 years on |
| In a written personal message, they said that his spirit and impact "will continue to live on". | In a written personal message, they said that his spirit and impact "will continue to live on". |
| "Despite the demands of his work, Dad's love and support for our family never wavered," his children said. | "Despite the demands of his work, Dad's love and support for our family never wavered," his children said. |
| "He encouraged our independence and growth, always striving to ensure that we could forge our paths. | "He encouraged our independence and growth, always striving to ensure that we could forge our paths. |
| "Dad's unwavering commitment to improving the lives and experiences of people in our community was truly infectious. | "Dad's unwavering commitment to improving the lives and experiences of people in our community was truly infectious. |
| "His tireless work and activism touched the lives of so many, both locally and on a broader national and global scale." | "His tireless work and activism touched the lives of so many, both locally and on a broader national and global scale." |
| Guy Reid-Bailey, OBE, Roy Hackett, OBE, and Dr Paul Stephenson OBE led the Bristol bus boycott in the 1960s | Guy Reid-Bailey, OBE, Roy Hackett, OBE, and Dr Paul Stephenson OBE led the Bristol bus boycott in the 1960s |
| Dr Stephenson's journey began as the first black social worker employed by the city of Bristol. | Dr Stephenson's journey began as the first black social worker employed by the city of Bristol. |
| In this role, he spearheaded the historic bus boycott, rallying thousands of Bristolians to stand together against the Bristol Omnibus Company's refusal to hire Black and Asian drivers. | In this role, he spearheaded the historic bus boycott, rallying thousands of Bristolians to stand together against the Bristol Omnibus Company's refusal to hire Black and Asian drivers. |
| This victory paved the way for the nation's first Race Relations Act. | This victory paved the way for the nation's first Race Relations Act. |
| He was arrested at the Bay horse pub in Bristol, which made national news. It happened after he refused to leave when the bartender would not serve him. Dr Stephenson won a court case against the pub and Daily Express for defamation. | He was arrested at the Bay horse pub in Bristol, which made national news. It happened after he refused to leave when the bartender would not serve him. Dr Stephenson won a court case against the pub and Daily Express for defamation. |
| 'Incredibly sad' | 'Incredibly sad' |
| Over the years, Dr Stephenson's unwavering commitment to equality and social justice earned him numerous accolades, including honorary degrees and doctorates, The Freedom of the City of Bristol and a Pride of Britain award for lifetime achievement from Sir Lenny Henry in 2017. | Over the years, Dr Stephenson's unwavering commitment to equality and social justice earned him numerous accolades, including honorary degrees and doctorates, The Freedom of the City of Bristol and a Pride of Britain award for lifetime achievement from Sir Lenny Henry in 2017. |
| Dr Stephenson collaborated with high profile politicians in the UK and abroad and spoke at engagements at global United Nations conferences for policy development in race relations. | Dr Stephenson collaborated with high profile politicians in the UK and abroad and spoke at engagements at global United Nations conferences for policy development in race relations. |
| Former mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, said the news of Dr Stephenson's death was "incredibly sad". | Former mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, said the news of Dr Stephenson's death was "incredibly sad". |
| “Paul lived an incredible life. Not just for his friends and his family, but made a contribution to Bristol, the country and the world," said Mr Rees. | “Paul lived an incredible life. Not just for his friends and his family, but made a contribution to Bristol, the country and the world," said Mr Rees. |
| “Most famously, Paul will be known for the leadership of the Bristol Bus Boycott. | “Most famously, Paul will be known for the leadership of the Bristol Bus Boycott. |
| "Less well known, but incredibly significant, is that that turned into legislation to protect people from racial discrimination. | "Less well known, but incredibly significant, is that that turned into legislation to protect people from racial discrimination. |
| “His impact was not just around the buses, it was about what it led to in terms of creating a legal framework to protect black and brown people – and other people – from being discriminated against in everyday life.” | “His impact was not just around the buses, it was about what it led to in terms of creating a legal framework to protect black and brown people – and other people – from being discriminated against in everyday life.” |
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