Debate on Colonial Monuments Intensifies Amid Global Anti-Racist Protests
The murder of George Floyd ignited worldwide protests against racism, leading to discussions about monuments dedicated to individuals associated with slavery and genocide. On June 7, demonstrators in Bristol threw the statue of slave trader Edward Colston into the River Avon; Colston was responsible for the trafficking of approximately 80,000 Africans, with 20,000 perishing during the journey. Following this, on June 9, a statue of King Leopold II was taken down in Antwerp; his reign from 1865 to 1909 resulted in 10 million deaths in the Congo. In São Paulo, the 1953 Monumento às Bandeiras was vandalized in 2013, becoming a symbol of Indigenous resistance. These actions question a "universal history" and advocate for the decolonization of symbols. Banksy proposed recontextualizing Colston's statue to reflect historical reinterpretation.
Key facts
- Protesters toppled Edward Colston's statue in Bristol on June 7.
- Colston trafficked around 80,000 enslaved Africans, with 20,000 dying at sea.
- Antwerp removed a statue of King Leopold II on June 9 for museum placement.
- Leopold II's rule (1865-1909) caused an estimated 10 million deaths in the Congo.
- São Paulo's Monumento às Bandeiras by Victor Brecheret was inaugurated in 1953.
- The monument was defaced with red paint in a 2013 protest.
- The 2013 protest was linked to debates over PEC 215 on Indigenous land demarcation.
- Banksy proposed a new installation for Bristol featuring Colston's statue being toppled.
Entities
Artists
- Victor Brecheret
- Banksy
- Marcos Tupã
Institutions
- Comissão Guarani Yvyrupá
Locations
- Bristol
- England
- Antwerp
- Belgium
- São Paulo
- Brazil
- Congo
- United States