Bristol civil rights activist Roy Hackett, whose work impacted the entirety of the UK, has passed away at the age of 93. Roy, who was awarded an MBE, helped organise the Bristol Bus Boycott of 1963.
The historic Bus Boycott saw people across Bristol refuse to use the Bristol Omnibus Company after it refused the employment of Black and Asian people. The Boycott lasted for a total of four months - and the bus company backed down as a result.
Roy Hackett's work was influential in passing the Race Relations Act 1965. Hackett has become so influential across the UK that the Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer once said the Bristol Bus Boycott "should be taught in every school".
Read next: Calls for key part of Bristol history to be taught in UK schools
Tributes have been flooding in for the Bristol civil rights activist, as the likes of Race Correspondent and Columnist at The Independent, Nadine White, and TedX Bristol Speaker and founder of Representation Matters, Aisha Thomas, pay tribute to Hackett.
Nadine White called Hackett a "UK civil rights icon". Aisha Thomas tweeted, "So sad to hear of the loss of another elder in the community.
"RIP Mr. Roy Hackett MBE. Condolences to all the family.
"Absolute legend." Roy Hackett was given an OBE in 2009, and an MBE in 2020.
He was also the co-founder of the Commonwealth Coordinated Committee. This Committee set up Bristol's St Paul's Carnival in 1968.
The Bristol Bus Boycott of 1963 was organised by Hackett, alongside Paul Stephenson, Owen Henry and Guy Bailey. He leaves behind three children.
