No slavery link to city statues
The city council’s decision to examine its public monuments followed a call for all local authorities to do the same after protestors toppled a statue of 17th Century slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol and threw it into the city’s harbour last month (June).
Mowbray Park’s statue of Henry Havelock was added to the “Topple the Racists” website,whichsaidthesoldierhad “brutally suppressed the Indian rebellion of 1857’.
A petition started by nursing student Rosie Smith, from Seaham,gainedmorethan200 signatures after it called for a review of Wearside’s statues.
She said: “We were still collecting signatures until recently so never submitted [the petition].
“However a link to it was emailed with an explanation to the council members.
“We appreciate the council taking steps to review the statue.”
However,whilesomecalled for a reassessment of Sunderland’s monuments and the figures they commemorate in light of the Black Lives Matterprotests,othersdemanded their protection.
A counter-petition organised by Wearside’s branch of the Conservative Party demandedthecouncil“rejectany calls to remove” statues from public places.
CounWilliamBlackettsaid: “Our petition showed that the vast majority of Sunderland’s residents wanted to protect ourheritageandwerenothappy to see our council pander to asmallminorityopposedtothe statue and the vandals who attacked the Havelock statue.
“It is good to see that the calls of a small minority have ledtonochangeandourhistoric statues will remain in place for the benefit of all residents of Sunderland.”