Paul Stephenson (civil rights campaigner)

For other people with the same name, see Paul Stephenson.

Paul Stephenson
OBE
Born(1937-05-06)6 May 1937
Rochford, Essex, England
Died2 November 2024(2024-11-02) (aged 87)
OccupationCommunity worker
Known forCivil Rights activism, community relations

Paul Stephenson OBE (6 May 1937 – 2 November 2024) was a British community worker, activist and long-time campaigner for civil rights for the British African-Caribbean community in Bristol, England.

As a young social worker, in 1963 Stephenson led a boycott of the Bristol Omnibus Company, protesting against its refusal to employ Black or Asian drivers or conductors. After a 60-day boycott supported by thousands of Bristolians, the company revoked its colour bar in August. In 1964 Stephenson achieved national fame when he refused to leave a public house until he was served, resulting in a trial on a charge of failing to leave a licensed premises. His campaigns were instrumental in paving the way for the first Race Relations Act, in 1965.[1] Stephenson was a Freeman of the City of Bristol and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2009.[2]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Post 26Nov09 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ United Kingdom "No. 58929". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 31 December 2008. p. 12.