Protests Erupt Across the US as Monuments to Racism Are Removed

Strategic Insights -

Protests have been erupting across the United States, with communities and activists taking matters into their own hands to remove monuments that symbolize racism, white supremacy, and oppression. The movement, sparked by the fatal police shooting of George Floyd, has gained momentum, with over 130 monuments either removed or requested for removal. This comes after a national movement in 2017 to get rid of racist monuments following the Charlottesville rally, where at least 114 Confederate statues were removed, according to a 2019 report by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Key Takeaways:

  • The movement to remove monuments to racism has been ongoing since the Jim Crow era, but gained momentum after the Charlottesville rally in 2017, resulting in the removal of at least 114 Confederate statues.
  • Over 130 monuments have been removed or requested for removal, with many more being defaced, vandalized, or occupied by protestors.
  • Politicians, including New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, have shown support for the efforts by announcing the removal of statues themselves.
  • Community members and activists are taking matters into their own hands, forcibly removing statues with chains and ropes.
  • The American Museum of Natural History in New York City removed a statue of President Theodore Roosevelt due to its depiction of Black and Indigenous people as subjugated and racially inferior.
  • The museum's president, Ellen Futter, stated that the removal of the statue is a necessary step towards racial justice.

Statistics:

  • At least 114 Confederate statues were removed between 2017 and 2019, according to a report by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SLPC).
  • Over 130 monuments have been removed or requested for removal, according to a running tally by NBC News.
  • At least 10 monuments have been defaced, vandalized, or set on fire in the past month alone (no specific dates provided).

Sources:

  • The Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF)
  • CNN
  • NBC News
  • The American Museum of Natural History
  • The Southern Poverty Law Center (SLPC)