Britain removes protection from Churchill statue for Macron visit
Workers remove the protective boards around the Winston Churchill statue in Westminster, in London, Britain, June 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
Workmen began removing protective hoarding around a statue of Britain's wartime leader Winston Churchill on Wednesday ahead of a visit from French President Emmanuel Macron, after the monument was covered up during racial equality protests.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan's office confirmed the uncovering was linked to Macron's visit, which marks the 80th anniversary of General Charles de Gaulle's radio address to France after the Nazi invasion in 1940, broadcast from London by the BBC.
The plinth of Churchill's statue outside parliament was daubed with graffiti that said "Churchill was a racist" during a Black Lives Matter march 10 days ago.
Workers remove the protective boards around the Winston Churchill statue in Westminster, in London, Britain, June 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
The authorities feared it was at risk of further damage following the toppling of a statue of Edward Colston, a 17th century slave trader, by protesters in Bristol in southwest England.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, an admirer and biographer of Churchill, said it was "absurd and deplorable" that the monument should have been in any danger.
Churchill expressed racist and anti-Semitic views and critics blame him for denying food to India during the 1943 famine which killed more than 2 million people - aspects of his legacy which some say are not scrutinised enough.
A worker removes the protective boards around the Winston Churchill statue in Westminster, in London, Britain, June 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
(Reporting by Hannah McKay, writing by William James, editing by Estelle Shirbon)
Workers remove the protective boards around the Winston Churchill statue in Westminster, in London, Britain, June 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKayWorkers remove the protective boards around the Winston Churchill statue in Westminster, in London, Britain, June 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKayA worker removes the protective boards around the Winston Churchill statue in Westminster, in London, Britain, June 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKayA worker removes the protective boards around the Winston Churchill statue in Westminster, in London, Britain, June 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKayDucks are seen as protective boards around the Winston Churchill statue are being removed in Westminster, in London, Britain, June 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKayA duck is seen as protective boards around the Winston Churchill statue are being removed in Westminster, in London, Britain, June 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
