I think it is one of the bonfire societies in question, they traditionally dress up as Zulus and last year agreed to change some of what they wear and how they black up. to reduce the caricature effect. they have another bunch who dress up as “red indians”, quite literally. another who dress up as monks, complete with burning crosses etc.
the Guardian article from 2017 and the recent one give the background. Can’t be arsed to provide the links.
There is a pub near me called the black boy. From their website: https://www.theblackboy.co.uk/about
Why the name Black Boy? There are a number of similarly named pubs in the region but the derivation is not clear cut. In the 18th century it was fashionable for wealthy families to employ negro servants with the little ‘black boy’ riding pillion on their carriages. These premises probably got their name from this piece of social one-upmanship. However when Charles II (1660-1685) was in exile his dark complexion earned him the nickname The Black Boy!
There’s one near where I am working, the sign used to show a young afro/Carribbean boy, now it shows a sailing ship.
…after Brexit…who knows? 
From Wikipedia…about Blackboy Hill in Bristol.
The upper part of the road is commonly known as Blackboy Hill, named after the Black Boy Inn which stood on the hill until 1874.[1] “Black Boy” was a common name for pubs after the Restoration. Charles II was commonly known as “the black boy” due to his black hair[2] and the pub sign on Blackboy Hill had, until very recently, a portrait of Charles II on it.
The origin of the name of Whiteladies Road appears to be a pub, known as the White Ladies Inn, shown on maps in 1746 and 1804. There is a popular belief in Bristol that the naming of both Whiteladies Road and Blackboy Hill had connections with the slave trade, but this is probably an urban myth. Both names appear to be derived from pubs. A map of 1826 shows a house called White Ladies, and the road at least as far as Whiteladies Gate (near the present site of Clifton Down station) had been given its name by that time.
Edit: I am not at all condoning the behaviour described above.
Whatever historical context can be applied is irrelevant. It’s fucking stupid and is completely unnecessary.
Me.
Watched Warhorse and blubbed like a bitch 
It’s your age bruv 
I think you’ll find that’ll have more effect on incontinence 
Haha…both ends I reckon 
There was a big meeting last year with a Zulu dance troup. The Borough Bonfire Society stopped blacking up and the Zulus paraded with them. It all seemed to be worked out quite amicably.
The Zulus were invited back this year and accepted.
Then one twat blacked up their child for a pre-bonfire event and the Zulus pulled out.
I don’t blame them one bit. The Bonfire Society aren’t exactly pleased with that member either.
Understandable Terry, so did I, when I read the book and when I watched the film. Didn’t skrike when I saw it at the theatre though, don’t know why, because that was utterly enthralling.
This bunch of arseholes can have multiple ones
‘Sick’ Grenfell Tower Bonfire Video Shows Group Laughing As They Burn Effigy Of The Building
The knuckle dragging cunts.
Hopefully they’ll get what they deserve
Doubtless they’re fucking cunts but have they broken any laws?
It’s not illegal to be a cunt AFAIK
There are problems in this country regarding freedom of speech and the freedom to be offensive. In my view these are not criminal acts. Offensive, vile, tasteless but not criminal.
You can be a cunt in private, however…
The men have been arrested under section 4a of the Public Order Act 1986, which covers intentional “harassment, alarm or distress” caused via the use of “threatening, abusive or insulting” words or signs.
Offences committed on a private residence where a person “had no reason to believe” it would be “heard or seen by a person outside that or any other dwelling” are protected from prosecution under the act.
