Statues under council review
RHONDDA Cynon Taf council leaders have ordered a review of the county borough’s plaques, statues and memorials following protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
A COUNCIL has ordered a review into the plaques, statues and memorials following protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Rhondda Cynon Taf council leaders have announced that an “urgent review” has been ordered into all local authority sites and buildings to determine what statues, busts, plaques and memorials are present at their locations.
If the review finds any of these to be inappropriate, they will be removed.
The statement said the council prides itself on “being an inclusive, diverse and equal organisation”, adding “we condemn all forms of racism and discrimination”.
A joint statement from council leader Andrew Morgan and deputy leader Maureen Webber said: “We have asked council officers to carry out an urgent review of all local authority-owned sites and buildings in the county borough to determine what statues, busts, plaques and memorials are present at these locations.
“If it is the case that any of these may be deemed inappropriate then we will be requesting officers to ensure that they are removed from those particular locations.
“The council prides itself on being an inclusive, diverse and equal organisation, and we would like to fully reassure residents that we condemn all forms of racism and discrimination.”
The announcement follows calls from members of Cardiff Council and protesters in Carmarthen to remove monuments commemorating “brutal slave owner” Thomas Picton.
A statue of the Haverfordwest-born former governor of Trinidad stands in Cardiff’s City
Hall and a 25m tall monument to him has stood on the outskirts of Carmarthen town centre since 1888.
While remembered as the highest ranking officer to die at Waterloo and lauded for two centuries as a war hero, Picton also executed dozens of slaves as governor of the island and notoriously authorised the torture of a 14-year-old girl.
Cardiff council leader Huw Thomas, responding to an open letter from the city’s mayor Dan De’Ath, supported the calls for its removal.
Meanwhile, thousands of people across the UK and Wales have taken part in Black Lives Matter protests throughout the week at locations including Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Newport.