London Commission to Review Public Statues and Street Names for Inclusivity
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has established a commission tasked with assessing statues, street names, and building names to enhance the representation of the city’s diversity. This move comes in the wake of the 2020 incident where Edward Colston's statue was toppled during Black Lives Matter demonstrations. The commission, comprised of 15 members including Aindrea Emelife, Riz Ahmed, Jack Guinness, Jasvir Singh, and Toyin Agbetu, will be co-chaired by deputy mayors Debbie Weekes-Bernard and Justine Simons. Rather than focusing on the removal of current monuments, the group aims to work with local councils and arts organizations to create new statues. Khan has previously advocated for memorials honoring Stephen Lawrence, the Windrush generation, and a national slavery museum, highlighting the importance of public works that reflect diverse cultures and viewpoints.
Key facts
- London Mayor Sadiq Khan established a commission to review public statues and street names for inclusivity.
- The commission was inspired by the toppling of Edward Colston's statue in Bristol and its replacement by Marc Quinn's sculpture of a Black woman.
- Art historian and gallerist Aindrea Emelife, 27, is a member of the commission.
- The 15-member commission includes actor Riz Ahmed, Jack Guinness, Jasvir Singh, and Toyin Agbetu.
- The commission is co-chaired by deputy mayors Debbie Weekes-Bernard and Justine Simons.
- Khan has pledged support for memorials to Stephen Lawrence, the Windrush generation, a national slavery museum, and a Sikh war memorial.
- The commission will work with a Borough Working Group and a Partners Board.
- The focus is on erecting new statues rather than removing existing ones.
Entities
Artists
- Aindrea Emelife
- Marc Quinn
- Riz Ahmed
- Jack Guinness
- Jasvir Singh
- Toyin Agbetu
- Millicent Garrett Fawcett
- Stephen Lawrence
- Edward Colston
- Sadiq Khan
- Debbie Weekes-Bernard
- Justine Simons
Institutions
- City Sikhs
- Ligali
- QueerBible
- Borough Working Group
- Partners Board
- Artribune
- The Guardian
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Bristol
- Parliament Square