Summary
The statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square, London, has been defaced with graffiti that includes political messages. This is not the first time the statue has been vandalized. Authorities are cleaning the statue, and the area is currently cordoned off.
Key Facts
- The statue was marked with graffiti calling Churchill a "Zionist war criminal" and included phrases like "Stop the Genocide" and "Free Palestine."
- Other messages sprayed on the statue were "Never again is Now" and "Globalise the Intifada."
- The Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police have stated that "globalise the intifada" chants could lead to an arrest.
- The statue has been regularly targeted, including during past protests like Black Lives Matter in 2020 and a climate protest by Extinction Rebellion.
- In 2020, it was vandalized with accusations of racism.
- The statue, made by sculptor Ivor Roberts-Jones, was unveiled in 1973 and is among 12 statues of notable figures in Parliament Square.
- The Metropolitan Police and Westminster City Council have been contacted for comments about the incident.
