A statue of former U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill was boarded up in a gray box Friday, in anticipation of weekend protests in London.
The statue of Churchill was defaced by protesters Sunday, as international demonstrations over the death of George Floyd continued. The protesters crossed out Churchill’s name on the statue, and wrote the words “was a racist.” (RELATED: Andrew Cuomo Defends Christopher Columbus Statue, Says It Represents ‘Italian-American Legacy’)
The statue of Winston Churchill in London has been boarded up ahead of weekend protests. What an image by AP. pic.twitter.com/KAro4w94QX
— Bevan Shields (@BevanShields) June 12, 2020
Protesters in the UK deface a statue of Winston Churchill
pic.twitter.com/NQ6Lwyf2CU— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) June 7, 2020
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson defended the Churchill statue in a series of tweets Friday morning and said the protests in his country have been “hijacked by extremists.” (RELATED: Boris Johnson Thinks He Was Hospitalized For Coronavirus Because He’s Fat)
“The statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square is a permanent reminder of his achievement in saving this country – and the whole of Europe – from a fascist and racist tyranny,” Johnson said. “It is absurd and shameful that this national monument should today be at risk of attack by violent protestors. Yes, he sometimes expressed opinions that were and are unacceptable to us today, but he was a hero, and he fully deserves his memorial.”
The statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square is a permanent reminder of his achievement in saving this country – and the whole of Europe – from a fascist and racist tyranny. 1/8
— Boris Johnson #StayAlert (@BorisJohnson) June 12, 2020
It is absurd and shameful that this national monument should today be at risk of attack by violent protestors. Yes, he sometimes expressed opinions that were and are unacceptable to us today, but he was a hero, and he fully deserves his memorial. 2/8
— Boris Johnson #StayAlert (@BorisJohnson) June 12, 2020
Protests in the U.S. have also seen statues dedicated to historic figures attacked, with seven people arrested in Miami earlier this week for allegedly vandalizing statues of Christopher Columbus and Juan Ponce de León.