11/09/2020 Toppling statues as an act of historical redemption | ROAR Magazine https://roarmag.org/essays/toppling-statues-as-an-act-of-historical-redemption/ 1/4 T he brutal murder of George Floyd by the he brutal murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police set off an Minneapolis police set off an unprecedented wave of protests. In a unprecedented wave of protests. In a highly publicized, graphic execution, Floyd was highly publicized, graphic execution, Floyd was killed in broad daylight for possession of an alleged killed in broad daylight for possession of an alleged counterfeit bill. The ensuing rebellion of global counterfeit bill. The ensuing rebellion of global dimensions is undoubtedly fueled by the exposure dimensions is undoubtedly fueled by the exposure to uncertainty, stress and anxiety that the COVID- to uncertainty, stress and anxiety that the COVID- 19 pandemic has exacerbated. In the United States 19 pandemic has exacerbated. In the United States and beyond, frustration and anger at unprepared and beyond, frustration and anger at unprepared and incompetent governments overlap with the and incompetent governments overlap with the pressures of systemic racism, seen in sheer wealth pressures of systemic racism, seen in sheer wealth gaps and repressive state practices. gaps and repressive state practices. Across the pond, protests have also erupted in Across the pond, protests have also erupted in Britain. In a context of recession and repression, it Britain. In a context of recession and repression, it is common for widespread rebellions to flare up at is common for widespread rebellions to flare up at instances of injustice. But the protesters’ actions instances of injustice. But the protesters’ actions have also led to an unexpected discussion of history have also led to an unexpected discussion of history and memory. This was a product of direct action: and memory. This was a product of direct action: protesters in Bristol took down the controversial protesters in Bristol took down the controversial statue of the slave trader Edward Colston, defaced statue of the slave trader Edward Colston, defaced it, and threw it into the harbor. it, and threw it into the harbor. All over the world, statues of figures associated All over the world, statues of figures associated with racism and slavery have faced a similar fate: with racism and slavery have faced a similar fate: confederate monuments were toppled and a confederate monuments were toppled and a Columbus statue was “ Columbus statue was “ beheaded beheaded ” in the US; a ” in the US; a statue of Leopold II, the Belgian king who statue of Leopold II, the Belgian king who slaughtered half of the Congolese population, was slaughtered half of the Congolese population, was removed removed in Antwerp; and similar episodes have in Antwerp; and similar episodes have taken place from taken place from France France to to Australia Australia . The attack against such figures is far from The attack against such figures is far from misguided vandalism, but part of an ongoing misguided vandalism, but part of an ongoing reckoning with historically ingrained patterns reckoning with historically ingrained patterns discrimination and racism. These acts stand for a discrimination and racism. These acts stand for a rejection of historical closure, and hold open rejection of historical closure, and hold open possibilities of a genuine reconciliation with the possibilities of a genuine reconciliation with the past. past. ROAR Magazine ROAR Magazine is an independent journal of the radical imagination providing is an independent journal of the radical imagination providing grassroots perspectives from the frontlines of the global struggle for real democracy. grassroots perspectives from the frontlines of the global struggle for real democracy.