I don't think Edward Colston had the powers that Saddam Hussain had, given he died several hundred years ago.
Look, Edward Colston judged by todays standards is an utter c**t. Slavery to us all is as abhorrent as it gets. That's not in dispute. The question in hand was whether this act of tearing down his statue was about the act (vandalism) or the statue (of Colston).
Quite clearly it's about the statue. That's why we are talking about it, and not four kids smashing up a bus shelter in Middlesbrough or four lads smashing a grave in Portsmouth or any other cases in the last few months.