Hello, thanks for downloading the witness history podcast from the BBC World Service.

It's 60 years since a boycott of local bus services ended in Bristol, England.

The campaign helped to bring about Britain's first laws against racial discrimination.

In 2013, Louise Hadago heard from the spokesperson for the protest, as well as from one of the

protestors.

This programme contains some racist language used at the time.

It's June 1963, and in the southwestern English city of Bristol,

a small group of young black men are challenging the inequality and racism that was part of life

in 60's Britain.

There were no rights. Black people had no rights. I was arrested and pulling

in jail for refusing to leave the public house, couldn't work on the buses, couldn't be a

policeman, couldn't be a fireman.

Paul Stevenson was the first black social worker in Bristol.

And like many young black people of the time, he was inspired by the civil rights movement

then sweeping America.

It was the time when Luther King was marching and the students standing south were marching

for freedom against discrimination and racism. Did I felt something had to be done in Bristol?

The target they chose was the Bristol Omnibus Company. The company had been advertising for drivers

and conductors, but it had made very clear that anyone who was not white need not bother to apply.

No black person would be given a job.

The point is that whilst we can obtain white labour in the city, we intend to go on engaging

white labour rather than coloured labour.

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