London to remove two statues over links to slavery

The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Thursday, March 28, 2024


London to remove two statues over links to slavery
William Beckford (baptised 19 December 1709 – 21 June 1770) was a well-known political figure in 18th-century London, who twice held the office of Lord Mayor of London (1762 and 1769).



LONDON (AFP).- The local authority that runs London's historic financial district is to remove the statues of two British colonial-era politicians over their links to the slave trade.

The City of London Corporation voted on Thursday to remove the statues of two 17th and 18th century figures because they had accrued wealth through the slave trade.

The monuments to William Beckford, a former London mayor who drew his wealth from plantations in Jamaica that used slave labour, and John Cass, an MP and major figure in the Royal Africa Company that facilitated the transatlantic slave trade, will be re-sited.

The corporation launched a public consultation on monuments connected to slavery in September in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests that swept Britain and Europe following the death in US police custody of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, months earlier.

The demonstrations, which culminated in the toppling of a statue of Bristol slave trader Edward Colston during an anti-racism protest, sparked nationwide calls to remove monuments linked to Britain's colonial past.

The movement also faced a significant backlash, particularly after a statue of Britain's wartime prime minister Winston Churchill was targeted by protesters.

Earlier this week, new legal protections came into force meaning historic statues will only be removed in "the most exceptional circumstances".

Under the legislation, if a local authority intends to remove a monument and the national heritage body Historic England objects, the final decision will rest with communities minister Robert Jenrick.

Jenrick has said Britain should not try revise its past and wrote in the Sunday Telegraph last weekend that monuments which have stood for generations should not be "removed on a whim or at the behest of a baying mob".

Catherine McGuinness, the City of London Corporation's policy chairwoman, said the decision to remove the statues from London's Guildhall was the result of "months of valuable work" by their Tackling Racism Taskforce.

The Tackling Racism Taskforce co-chairwoman Caroline Addy said the committee had voted for the "correct response to a sensitive issue".

"The slave trade is a stain on our history and putting those who profited from it literally on a pedestal is something that has no place in a modern, diverse city," she said.


© Agence France-Presse










Today's News

January 23, 2021

Do museums need a shopping network for art donations?

Finally in 3-D: A dinosaur's all-purpose orifice

Sperone Westwater opens it first exhibition with Peter Sacks

Kasmin opens an exhibition of work by American painter Jane Freilicher

London to remove two statues over links to slavery

Major Damien Hirst exhibition to open in St. Moritz

Lizzie Borden's notoriety is this home's selling point

Christie's Americana Week auctions achieve $9,202,500

Pre-historic Europeans used bronze objects as currency: study

Ancient coins returned after Italy church confession

Virus threatens future of UK museums: Art Fund

New Curator of Old Masters for Boijmans

Almine Rech opens an exhibition of works by Madelynn Green

Dyani White Hawk receives 2020 Bemis Alumni Award

Barber Institute becomes first ever museum with its own 'Nurse in Residence'

Swedish archaeologists take to the waves to protect Baltic wrecks

Suhail Zaheer Lari, force for preservation in Pakistan, dies at 84

Elijah Moshinsky, favored Met Opera director, dies at 75

Le Monde's celebrated cartoonist Plantu to bow out after 50 years

VIA Art Fund announces 2020 grant recipients

Rio scraps 2021 carnival over coronavirus woes

Sealed copy of Donkey Kong leads video games past $1 million at Heritage Auctions

Doubloon sets $9.36 million world record at Heritage Auctions

On view in New York for the first time: Jacopo Ligozzi's "The Contest of Apollo and Pan"

How backup power can protect your business?

How to Create a Baby Scrapbook

All You Need To Know About Online Casinos!

Top Five Online Casino Games Inspired by Famous Works of Art

Web Design Tips 2021

Birth Injuries Compensation in Australia

12 Fascinating Art Documentaries to Watch Now

3D Printed Art: How 3D Printing Brings to Life Artists Realistic Visualizations

A Personal Painted Masterpiece for Your Loved One




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful