Rhodes Must Fall - Oxford protesters target statue of colonialist

By Ben Makori and Hannah McKay

 

A general view as demonstrators protest for the removal of a statue of British imperialist Cecil Rhodes at Oriel College in Oxford, following the death of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis, Oxford, Britain, June 9, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

 

OXFORD, England (Reuters) - More than 1,000 protesters converged on a college at Oxford University on Tuesday, chanting "take it down" and "shame on you" to demand the removal of a statue of 19th century British colonialist Cecil Rhodes.

 

A wave of anti-racism protests sweeping across the United States and Europe has reignited a debate about monuments glorifying Britain's imperialist past, which many people see as offensive in today's multi-ethnic society.

 

Dramatic images on Sunday of protesters in the port city of Bristol tearing down a statue of 17th century slave trader Edward Colston and throwing it into the harbour inspired campaigners in Oxford to seize the moment.

 

"Rhodes represents such a violent legacy of colonialism, imperialism, slavery, particularly in southern Africa," said protester Morategi Kale, a South African graduate student at Oxford. "The beginning is to take down a statue that celebrates that."

 

Many academics and public figures oppose the removal of such monuments, arguing they merely reflect history and should be used as points of discussion.

 

But demonstrators said the statue of Rhodes should no longer have pride of place on the facade of Oriel College, which overlooks Oxford's High Street.

 

"I think what he did should be in the museum, but not on an institution of higher education. It's just the wrong place," said Butch Smith, a chef, who had brought his young daughter to the protest.

 

Jeevan Ravindran, a student, said the statue showed the university was failing to engage with issues faced by students from ethnic minority backgrounds.

 

"For black and brown students to have to walk around this university and see these symbols of slavery and colonisation is frankly quite abhorrent," she said.

 

A statue of British colonialist Cecil Rhodes is seen on the side of Oriel College in Oxford, following the death of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis, Oxford, Britain, June 9, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

 

CONTESTED HERITAGE

A previous student campaign in 2015, modelled on the "Rhodes Must Fall" movement in South Africa that led Cape Town University to remove its statue of Rhodes that year, failed to convince Oriel to follow suit.

 

In a statement ahead of Tuesday's demonstration, the college said it abhorred racism.

 

"We understand that we are, and we want to be, a part of the public conversation about the relationship between the study of history, public commemoration, social justice and educational equality," it said.

 

"As a college, we continue to debate and discuss the issues raised by the presence on our site of examples of contested heritage relating to Cecil Rhodes."

 

A mining magnate, Rhodes was a central figure in Britain's colonial project in southern Africa, giving his name to Rhodesia, present-day Zimbabwe, and founding the De Beers diamond empire.

 

He made his fortune from the exploitation of African miners, secured power through bloody imperial wars and paved the way to apartheid with his beliefs and measures on racial segregation.

 

A student at Oriel in his youth, Rhodes left the college money when he died and also endowed the Rhodes Scholarships, which have allowed more than 8,000 students from countries around the world to study at Oxford over the past century.

 

The demonstration was peaceful, and there was no attempt to remove the statue, which stands in a niche high up on a building whose construction was partly funded by Rhodes.

 

(Additional reporting by Eddie Keogh and Gerry Mey, writing by Estelle Shirbon in London; editing by Stephen Addison)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-06-10

 

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5 minutes ago, webfact said:

Rhodes represents such a violent legacy of colonialism, imperialism, slavery, particularly in southern Africa," said protester Morategi Kale, a South African graduate student at Oxford. "The beginning is to take down a statue that celebrates that."

Absolutely correct, well said. 

I do agree that all of these statues of ex slave traders, imperialists and colonialists have had their day and that there are more worthy folk who could be celebrated.  But at the same time, let's not forget history or try to re write it in the mind set of 2020.  It was of its time and a lot of evil was certainly done, the slave trade being just one of those evils. But some good was done too and the imperialists are largely responsible for opening up Africa and Asia to social and economic development that they enjoy today. It wasn't all bad. Having said that, I support the removal of the statues. 

History in the making.  Stick the statue in a museum.

More SJW nonsense that is completely out of control

 

Are they going to replace the statue with some rainbow colored phallus?

25 minutes ago, webfact said:

"Rhodes represents such a violent legacy of colonialism, imperialism, slavery, particularly in southern Africa," said protester Morategi Kale, a South African graduate student at Oxford. "The beginning is to take down a statue that celebrates that."

'The beginning' is for foreign troublemakers to be returned to their home countries ..... is my opinion.

Don't like the way things are done in the UK? choose somewhere else to live (like I did).

Just now, sukhumvitneon said:

More SJW nonsense that is completely out of control

 

Are they going to replace the statue with some rainbow colored phallus?

how about replacing them with some truly inspirational people, who have not only done good, but have inspired others to do good: Leonard Cheshire, Douglas Bader, Charles 11, William Wilberforce of course, William Williams, Lord Shaftesbury, Lord Hunt, Edmund Hillary, Tensing Norgay, Cook, Adams, Etc.  Of course, if it was up to me I would replace them all with statues of Margaret Thatcher, hundreds, no thousands of them, in every nook and cranny of the UK.  

Stalin's and Saddam Hussein's statues were brought down, so perhaps it's time to do the same with other abusers?

12 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

how about replacing them with some truly inspirational people, who have not only done good, but have inspired others to do good: Leonard Cheshire, Douglas Bader, Charles 11, William Wilberforce of course, William Williams, Lord Shaftesbury, Lord Hunt, Edmund Hillary, Tensing Norgay, Cook, Adams, Etc.  Of course, if it was up to me I would replace them all with statues of Margaret Thatcher, hundreds, no thousands of them, in every nook and cranny of the UK.  

"truly inspirational people" is incredibly subjective.  How about not erasing history, especially ugly history, if it makes you feel uncomfortable?  These monuments need to stay up to remind ourselves of history, both good and bad.  Putting them in a museum is stupid because you usually need to pay a fee to get into a museum and most people don't bother going anyway.

So shall we tear down the universtys that they built as well ,might as well go the whole hog .

The world has gone nuts!

 

#oldfarangsmatter

the pendulum.  will swing one side .........  white people making billions.   then it will swing the other side...... white people incredibly guilty....

 

racism is very real in every country.  very real.  what bothers me is that I'm SURE many people asked to remove this statue for years and Oxford laughed in their face.  Now there is critical mass.  Now, not before, everyone will come out and say how they tried to help minorities.  this lie is what triggers me.  i'm happy this is happening, but hopefully there will be actual solutions put forth.  taking down a statue is like step zero.  never should have went up.  

 

 

47 minutes ago, TheDark said:

Stalin's and Saddam Hussein's statues were brought down, so perhaps it's time to do the same with other abusers?

But then there governments were overthrown now weren't they!  Are you saying All of the world Governments are about to fall because of a Black mans death at the hand of a police officer, or are you suggesting that there will be a reckoning soon?

51 minutes ago, TheDark said:

Stalin's and Saddam Hussein's statues were brought down, so perhaps it's time to do the same with other abusers?

What is your opinion on the Nazi Holocaust sites, which are kept as "statues" to the past...?

Pathetic tree huggers want to rewrite history

4 minutes ago, transam said:

What is your opinion on the Nazi Holocaust sites, which are kept as "statues" to the past...?

If there is statues of Hitler, I think those should be removed asap. Don't you think so?

12 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

But then there governments were overthrown now weren't they!  Are you saying All of the world Governments are about to fall because of a Black mans death at the hand of a police officer, or are you suggesting that there will be a reckoning soon?

I believe, the protests are against systematic oppression. Fire which was ignited by death of one man.

 

 

Most of those protesting seem to be young snowflakes that have not got a clue about history ,i hate to say it but we need another war or a famine to give them something to think about .

17 minutes ago, transam said:

What is your opinion on the Nazi Holocaust sites, which are kept as "statues" to the past...?

Seriously, you cannot tell the difference between a statue celebrating the memory of a man who caused devastation and misery in a large region of Southern Africa and Holocaust sites which stand as a reminder to the unspeakable horrors that uncontrolled hate, prejudice and bigotry lead to?

 

That is just pathetically sad. 

9 minutes ago, TheDark said:

If there is statues of Hitler, I think those should be removed asap. Don't you think so?

Answer my question, your opinion on Holocaust sites that are kept as "statues" to the past.

 

Are you "stuck"..?

Cecil Rhodes was one of the greatest Englishmen who ever lived, indeed one of the greatest human beings that ever graced the planet. His achievements are unparalleled.

 

For one of these 55 year old female councillors to decide to take down his statue is a disgrace for England, that has clearly caved in to the Antifa Taleban.

 

The only reason Cecil Rhodes is hated by elements of the far left is that he talked a lot of nonsense about race. So what? A person can't be right on everything. Does that invalidate his enormous achievements? Of course not.

 

Why the UK gives in so easily to violence, fear and intimidation is anyone's guess, the modern version of the UK never ceases to disappoint.

Just now, Bluespunk said:

Seriously, you cannot tell the difference between a statue celebrating the memory of a man who caused devastation and misery in a large region of Southern Africa and Holocaust sites which stand as a reminder to the unspeakable horrors that uncontrolled hate, prejudice and bigotry lead to?

 

That is just pathetically sad. 

In your opinion, but the sites are "statues" to the past, and am sure a certain nationality would like them removed to move on.....Don't you..?

PS. I know you will be "confused" now.....????

17 minutes ago, transam said:

In your opinion, but the sites are "statues" to the past, and am sure a certain nationality would like them removed to move on.....Don't you..?

PS. I know you will be "confused" now.....????

It is just beyond belief that you would use one of the worst atrocities carried out in modern times to defend a statue of a man.

 

Appalling. 

19 minutes ago, TheDark said:

If there is statues of Hitler, I think those should be removed asap. Don't you think so?

Deleted

 

1 hour ago, Pilotman said:

I do agree that all of these statues of ex slave traders, imperialists and colonialists have had their day and that there are more worthy folk who could be celebrated.  But at the same time, let's not forget history or try to re write it in the mind set of 2020.  It was of its time and a lot of evil was certainly done, the slave trade being just one of those evils. But some good was done too and the imperialists are largely responsible for opening up Africa and Asia to social and economic development that they enjoy today. It wasn't all bad. Having said that, I support the removal of the statues. 

I agree, but if the minorities are so disgusted with the origins of British society and Oxford University, why not just boycott such learning institutions. History made it what it is and that cannot be changed. Without Rhodes' contributions, Oxford might have been just another average university. Now it's one of the world's finest where students who study there are rewarded with a superior education and opportunities.

 

I would vote to keep the statue where it is.

Just now, Bluespunk said:

It is just beyond belief that you would use one of the worst atrocities carried out in modern times to defend a statue of a man. Appalling

But I face facts, you don't, you are a save the earth kind of chap, you told us so.

I am not defending the statue of a man, I am defending our history, something you don't give a stuff about....Do you...?

 

7 minutes ago, transam said:

Answer my question, your opinion on Holocaust sites that are kept as "statues" to the past.

 

Are you "stuck"..?

I'm not sure what you are trying to implicate. 

 

As a reminder, that the holocaust should never, ever happen again.. yes of course those should be kept as places, where people can visit and remember the horrific history.

 

It's weird that you somehow manage to put statues of abusers to the same basket as holocaust remembrance sites. That doesn't sound normal. 

6 minutes ago, Logosone said:

Cecil Rhodes was one of the greatest Englishmen who ever lived, indeed one of the greatest human beings that ever graced the planet. His achievements are unparalleled.

 

For one of these 55 year old females councillors to decide to take down his statue is a disgrace for England, that has clearly caved in to the Antifa Taleban.

 

The only reason Cecil Rhodes is hated by elements of the far left is that he talked a lot nonsense about race. So what? A person can't be right on everything. Does that invalidate his enormous achievements? Of course not.

 

Why the UK gives in so easily to violence, fear and intimidation is anyone's guess, the modern version of the UK never ceases to disappoint.

 

I agree and honestly, I couldn't care less about the statues. What I find disturbing is the knee-jerk reaction by those in power. Already Sadiq Khan is implementing a program to remove statues of people who have chequered histories without proper consultation. It's his dictororial attitude that I find offensive.

 

2 minutes ago, TheDark said:

I'm not sure what you are trying to implicate. 

 

As a reminder, that the holocaust should never, ever happen again.. yes of course those should be kept as places, where people can visit and remember the horrific history.

 

It's weird that you somehow manage to put statues of abusers to the same basket as holocaust remembrance sites. That doesn't sound normal. 

So the sites are not sites of abusers...?

Blimey, take a seat chap....????

Just now, transam said:

But I face facts, you don't, you are a save the earth kind of chap, you told us so.

I am not defending the statue of a man, I am defending our history, something you don't give a stuff about....Do you...?

 

No, what you are saying is the reasoning for putting up a statue of a man responsible for the devastation of Southern Africa are the same as those for maintaining Holocaust sites, sites where the darkest aspects of humanity were evident. 

 

You are using one of the most evil periods of modern times in a nauseating manner.