ACTIVISTS tore down a statue of Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first ever Prime Minister, in Montreal on Saturday.
PUBLISHED: Sun, Aug 30, 2020
Video footage shows protestors using ropes to pull the statue, which had been in place for 120 years. Demonstrators, who claimed to be supporting the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement, claimed the statue was a celebration of colonialism and racism.
As the statue fell from its plinth the head, which was bashed against the stone base, was knocked off.
Protestors later took photographs of themselves posing with the decapitated head.
As the statue started falling there was loud cheering and celebratory whooping from the crowd.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante condemned “the acts of vandalism that took place this afternoon in downtown Montreal”.
As the statue fell from its plinth the head, which was bashed against the stone base, was knocked off.
Protestors later took photographs of themselves posing with the decapitated head.
As the statue started falling there was loud cheering and celebratory whooping from the crowd.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante condemned “the acts of vandalism that took place this afternoon in downtown Montreal”.
The statue of Sir John A. Macdonald was toppled in Montreal (Image: @noreornot)
Organized black bloc militants have toppled the statue of Canada’s first prime minister, John Macdonald, in Montreal. They used umbrellas & sheets to shield their criminal comrades. The statue’s head broke off as it crashed to the ground. #BLM pic.twitter.com/ViarNxmJbh— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) August 29, 2020
She added monuments are currently at “the heart of emotional debates” about Canada’s identity and colonial past.
Police are currently investigating the incident.
When contacted by CBC Montreal a march organiser declined to comment on the attack.
Ms Plante added: “I understand and share the motivation of citizens who want to live in a more just and inclusive society.
Protesters used ropes to pull down the statue (Image: @noreornot)
Organized black bloc militants have toppled the statue of Canada’s first prime minister, John Macdonald, in Montreal. They used umbrellas & sheets to shield their criminal comrades. The statue’s head broke off as it crashed to the ground. #BLM pic.twitter.com/ViarNxmJbh— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) August 29, 2020
She added monuments are currently at “the heart of emotional debates” about Canada’s identity and colonial past.
Police are currently investigating the incident.
When contacted by CBC Montreal a march organiser declined to comment on the attack.
Ms Plante added: “I understand and share the motivation of citizens who want to live in a more just and inclusive society.
Protesters used ropes to pull down the statue (Image: @noreornot)
Sir John Macdonald's statue after being toppled in Montreal (Image: @noreornot)
“But the discussion and the necessary actions must be carried out peacefully, without ever resorting to vandalism.”
The statue had been repeatedly vandalised, including with red paint, over recent years.
Sir John A. Macdonald served as the first Prime Minister of Canada between 1867-1873 and again held the post from 1878-1891.
In total he was Prime Minister for 19 years, the second highest total of any Canadian leader.
He died in office during his second term in 1891.
Sir John became Prime Minister after the 1867 British North America Act devolved substantial powers from London to Canada, then a British colony.
A number of statues around the world have been toppled by groups claiming to support the Black Lives Matter movement after George Floyd was killed whilst being arrested by police in May.
In Bristol, UK, a statue of merchant and slave trader Edward Colston was torn down in June and dumped in the city’s harbour.
It was later recovered and put in safe storage by Bristol City Council.
In the United States a number of monuments to former Confederate generals and soldiers have been pulled down during protests.
More mainstream figures have also been targeted including statues of George Washington in Portland and abolitionist Frederick Douglass in Rochester, New York.
“But the discussion and the necessary actions must be carried out peacefully, without ever resorting to vandalism.”
The statue had been repeatedly vandalised, including with red paint, over recent years.
Sir John A. Macdonald served as the first Prime Minister of Canada between 1867-1873 and again held the post from 1878-1891.
In total he was Prime Minister for 19 years, the second highest total of any Canadian leader.
He died in office during his second term in 1891.
Sir John became Prime Minister after the 1867 British North America Act devolved substantial powers from London to Canada, then a British colony.
A number of statues around the world have been toppled by groups claiming to support the Black Lives Matter movement after George Floyd was killed whilst being arrested by police in May.
In Bristol, UK, a statue of merchant and slave trader Edward Colston was torn down in June and dumped in the city’s harbour.
It was later recovered and put in safe storage by Bristol City Council.
In the United States a number of monuments to former Confederate generals and soldiers have been pulled down during protests.
More mainstream figures have also been targeted including statues of George Washington in Portland and abolitionist Frederick Douglass in Rochester, New York.
Statue of Churchill in Parliament Square after being vandalised in June (Image: GETTY)
https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2020/08/activists-topple-statue-of-sir-john-a.html
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