The UK Civil Rights Leader Helped Ban Workplace Discrimination

Dr Paul Stephenson, a key figure in the British civil rights movement and leader of the 1963 Bristol Bus Boycott, has died at age 87. 

Stephenson, who fought for racial equality and against workplace discrimination, passed away on Saturday after battling Parkinson’s disease and dementia.

Leading the Bristol Bus Boycott

Born to an African father and white British mother, Dr Stephenson moved to Bristol, England in 1962. 

Dr Stephenson’s work gained national attention when he led the Bristol Bus Boycott in 1963.  The boycott was sparked when the Bristol Omnibus Company refused to hire Black and Asian drivers. 

This 60-day protest led to the company lifting its discriminatory hiring policy and was a major influence on the passing of the 1965 Race Relations Act, which outlawed workplace discrimination in the UK.

A Lifelong Fight for Justice

Dr Stephenson’s activism continued beyond the boycott. In 1964, he was arrested for standing his ground in a Bristol pub that refused to serve him due to his race—a case that made headlines when it was dismissed and led to the barman’s dismissal. 

Stephenson later worked with the Commission for Racial Equality and brought global figures like Muhammad Ali to engage with communities in London.

In 2009, Stephenson was awarded an OBE for his contributions to equal opportunities and community relations. 

He received honorary doctorates from three universities and was given the Freedom of the City of Bristol. His tireless efforts also earned him the Pride of Britain lifetime achievement award in 2017.

A Legacy That Lives On

Stephenson’s children, Fumi and Paul Jr., remembered him as a devoted father whose work inspired change and pushed for a fairer society. 

“Despite the demands of his work, dad’s love and support for our family never wavered. He encouraged our independence and growth, always striving to ensure that we could forge our paths,” they said in a statement.

“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.

“Ultimately, our father’s legacy extends far beyond the awards and accolades he received. It is embodied in the lives he touched, the barriers he broke down, and the generations he inspired to fight for a more just and equitable world.”

Feature Image Credit: Sky News