Photos show how anti-racism protesters in the US and Europe are reclaiming monuments that glorify colonialism, slavery, or the Confederacy

Natalie ColarossiJun 12, 2020, 02:56 IST

Two 14-year-old ballerinas pose in front of a monument of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee after Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam ordered its removal, on June 5, 2020.REUTERS/Julia Rendleman

Across the US and Europe, anti-racism protesters have been tearing down and defacing monuments dedicated to colonialists and Confederate soldiers.
Protesters have been reclaiming the monuments with messages to support the Black Lives Matter movement and to signify contempt for police, after the death of George Floyd sparked international protests against police violence and systemic racism.
These photos show how protesters have altered statues and street signs in the US, UK, and Belgium.

In cities across the US and Europe, anti-racism protesters have been tearing down and defacing monuments dedicated to Confederate soldiers and colonialists.

The movement follows the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. For more than two weeks, protesters around the world have taken to the streets to demand justice for Floyd, and protest against police brutality and racism.

Protesters have been reclaiming the monuments with messages to support the Black Lives Matter movement and to signify contempt for the police.

These photos show how demonstrators have taken over statues and street names across the US, UK, and Belgium.

In protests around the US, anti-racist demonstrators have ripped off the heads of Christopher Columbus statues and other colonial American monuments. This photo shows a beheaded statue of Columbus in Boston.

The head of a statue of Christopher Columbus was pulled off overnight amid protests against racial inequality in the aftermath of the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., June 10, 2020. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

In protests around the US, anti-racist demonstrators have ripped off the heads of Christopher Columbus statues and other colonial American monuments. This photo shows a beheaded statue of Columbus in Boston.

In Richmond, Virginia, demonstrators tore down a Columbus statue and set it on fire.

The statue of Christopher Columbus is seen on the ground after it was pulled down by protesters, following the death of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis, in Richmond, Virginia Instagram/@Michaelahatton + @804RRJA/via REUTERS

After the statue was completely pulled down, the base of the monument could be seen with the initials for Black Lives Matter written on it.

The vandalized base of the statue of Christopher Columbus is seen after the statue was pulled down by protesters, following the death of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis, in Richmond, Virginia, U.S., June 9, 2020, Instagram/@Videoguns/via REUTERS

Protesters in Richmond also marked the statue of Confederate Gen. J.E.B Stuart with graffiti.

A statue of Confederate general J.E.B. Stuart was marked during widespread civil unrest following the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Richmond, Virginia, U.S. June 5, 2020. REUTERS/Julia Rendleman

And at the Stonewall Jackson monument in the city, demonstrators are seen holding up signs as words such as "racist" adorn the statue.

From left, protestors Eve Ettinger, 31, Addie Meredith, 27, and Reamey Belski, 31, stand in front of monument of of Confederate Stonewall Jackson, which was marked during widespread civil unrest following the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Richmond, Virginia, U.S. June 5, 2020. REUTERS/Julia Rendleman

In this photo, two young ballerinas pose in front of a Robert E. Lee statue after protesters completely reclaimed the monument with written messages.

Kennedy George, 14, and Ava Holloway, 14, pose in front of a monument of Confederate general Robert E. Lee after Virginia Governor Ralph Northam ordered its removal after widespread civil unrest following the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Richmond, Virginia, U.S. June 5, 2020. REUTERS/Julia Rendleman

The statue of Confederate president Jefferson Davis was also marked with paint and graffiti before being completely torn down by protesters in Richmond.

A monument of Confederate president Jefferson Davis was marked during widespread civil unrest following the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Richmond, Virginia, U.S. REUTERS/Julia Rendleman

In Raleigh, North Carolina, protesters are seen marking a Confederate monument with spray paint.

A protester defaces a Confederate monument during nationwide unrest following the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S. May 31, 2020. REUTERS/Jonathan Drake

In Atlanta, Georgia, protesters stood atop a marked statue of a southern journalist, Henry Grady, who supported racists initiatives and did not condone voting rights for Black Americans.

Protesters stand on a statue of Henry Grady during a protest against the death in Minneapolis police custody of African-American man George Floyd, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. May 29, 2020. REUTERS/Dustin Chambers

In Atlanta, Georgia, protesters stood atop a marked statue of a southern journalist, Henry Grady, who supported racists initiatives and did not condone voting rights for Black Americans.

Additionally, protesters marked Confederate graves at a cemetery in Atlanta with black Xs.

Vandalized Confederate graves, which have since been washed, are seen in Oakland Cemetery as protesters rally against racial inequality in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. June 8, 2020. REUTERS/Dustin Chambers

And protesters spray-painted a monument dedicated to an unknown Confederate soldier in the same cemetery.

A vandalized monument to Unknown Confederate Dead is seen in Oakland Cemetery as protesters rally against racial inequality in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. June 10, 2020. REUTERS/Dustin Chambers

Statues across Europe have also been defaced and reclaimed with messages for the Black Lives Matter movement. In Glasgow, Scotland, a memorial to commemorate the Boer War — in which the British invaded South Africa — was defaced with "BLM" and anti-cop sentiments.

People observe a Boer War memorial covered with graffiti in Kelvingrove Park, in the aftermath of protests against the death of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis, Glasgow, Britain, June 8, 2020 REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

Statues across Europe have also been defaced and reclaimed with messages for the Black Lives Matter movement. In Glasgow, Scotland, a memorial to commemorate the Boer War — in which the British invaded South Africa — was defaced with "BLM" and anti-cop sentiments.

In the same park, the statue of Thomas Carlyle, a controversial Victorian author, was also defaced.

Graffiti is seen on the statue of Thomas Carlyle in Kelvingrove Park, in the aftermath of protests against the death of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis, Glasgow, Britain, June 8, 2020. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

Additionally, protesters throughout Glasgow have been putting up plaques to rename streets that honor colonial figures with the names of historical Black activists and thinkers.

A "Rosa Parks Street" sign is seen on Wilson Street, in the aftermath of protests against the death of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis, Glasgow, Britain, June 8, 2020. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

Additionally, protesters throughout Glasgow have been putting up plaques to rename streets that honor colonial figures with the names of historical Black activists and thinkers.

Here, a sign placed by protesters reads "Harriet Tubman Street."

A "Harriet Tubman Street" sign is seen on Ingram Street, in the aftermath of protests against the death of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis, Glasgow, Britain, June 8, 2020. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

In Leeds, Britain, the statue of Queen Victoria was marked with graffiti.

The Statue of Queen Victoria is cleaned after it was vandalized in Woodhouse Moor, Leeds, following the death of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis, Leeds, Britain, June 10, 2020. REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff

In London, protesters wrote "was a racist" underneath a monument of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

A demonstrator reacts in front of graffiti on a statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square during a Black Lives Matter protest in London, following the death of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis, London, Britain, June 7, 2020. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Outside of the Museum of London Docklands, the statue of a prominent slave-trader, Robert Milligan, was covered with a placard that read "Black Lives Matter," before being removed from its location entirely.

A statue of Robert Milligan is seen covered with a blanket and a placard with a message in reference to the Black Lives Matter campaign outside the Museum of London Docklands near Canary Wharf, following the death of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis, London, Britain, June 9, 2020. REUTERS/John Sibley

Outside of the Museum of London Docklands, the statue of a prominent slave-trader, Robert Milligan, was covered with a placard that read "Black Lives Matter," before being removed from its location entirely.

In Edinburgh, Scotland, protesters wrote "Son of slaver" and "Colonialist profiteer" on the statue of Robert Dundas, the son of Henry Dundas who was known for delaying the abolition of slavery.

The statue of Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville is pictured with graffiti, following the death of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis, Edinburgh, Britain, June 10, 2020. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

In Edinburgh, Scotland, protesters wrote "Son of slaver" and "Colonialist profiteer" on the statue of Robert Dundas, the son of Henry Dundas who was known for delaying the abolition of slavery.

In Bristol, Britain, protesters used a rope to grab hold of the statue of slave trader Edward Colston in order to tear it down.

The statue of Edward Colston falls down as protesters pull it down, following the death of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis, in Bristol, Britain, June 7, 2020. Keir Gravil/via REUTERS

Afterwards, the protesters carried the statue to a nearby river and threw it into the water.

The statue of 17th century slave trader Edward Colston falls into the water after protesters pulled it down and pushed into the docks, during a protest against racial inequality in the aftermath of the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Bristol, Britain, June 7, 2020. Keir Gravil via REUTERS

Across Belgium, statues of Belgian King Leopold II — one of the most notoriously brutal colonizers of Africa — have been torn down and defaced. Here, a statue of the king is seen covered in red paint in the garden of the African Museum.

A statue of former Belgian King Leopold II sprayed with a graffiti is seen in the park of the Africa Museum, in Tervuren, near Brussels, Belgium, June 9, 2020. REUTERS/Yves Herman

Across Belgium, statues of Belgian King Leopold II — one of the most notoriously brutal colonizers of Africa — have been torn down and defaced. Here, a statue of the king is seen covered in red paint in the garden of the African Museum.

Here, a King Leopold II statue is being removed from its location in Ekeren, Belgium after protesters dumped paint over it and damaged it.

A damaged statue of former Belgian King Leopold II is seen being removed for possible renovation in Ekeren, Belgium, June 9, 2020. Antwerp Television/Handout via REUTERS

And in this photo, demonstrators hold up the flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo at the base of a King Leopold II statue in Brussels.

Demonstrators stand on the statue of Leopold II as one of them holds a national flag of the Democratic Republic of Congo during a protest, organized by Black Lives Matter Belgium, against racial inequality in the aftermath of the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in central Brussels, Belgium June 7, 2020. REUTERS/Yves Herman

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Photos show how anti-racism protesters in the US and Europe are reclaiming monuments that glorify colonialism, slavery, or the Confederacy

In protests around the US, anti-racist demonstrators have ripped off the heads of Christopher Columbus statues and other colonial American monuments. This photo shows a beheaded statue of Columbus in Boston.

In Richmond, Virginia, demonstrators tore down a Columbus statue and set it on fire.

After the statue was completely pulled down, the base of the monument could be seen with the initials for Black Lives Matter written on it.

Protesters in Richmond also marked the statue of Confederate Gen. J.E.B Stuart with graffiti.

And at the Stonewall Jackson monument in the city, demonstrators are seen holding up signs as words such as "racist" adorn the statue.

In this photo, two young ballerinas pose in front of a Robert E. Lee statue after protesters completely reclaimed the monument with written messages.

The statue of Confederate president Jefferson Davis was also marked with paint and graffiti before being completely torn down by protesters in Richmond.

In Raleigh, North Carolina, protesters are seen marking a Confederate monument with spray paint.

In Atlanta, Georgia, protesters stood atop a marked statue of a southern journalist, Henry Grady, who supported racists initiatives and did not condone voting rights for Black Americans.

Additionally, protesters marked Confederate graves at a cemetery in Atlanta with black Xs.

And protesters spray-painted a monument dedicated to an unknown Confederate soldier in the same cemetery.

Statues across Europe have also been defaced and reclaimed with messages for the Black Lives Matter movement. In Glasgow, Scotland, a memorial to commemorate the Boer War — in which the British invaded South Africa — was defaced with "BLM" and anti-cop sentiments.

In the same park, the statue of Thomas Carlyle, a controversial Victorian author, was also defaced.

Additionally, protesters throughout Glasgow have been putting up plaques to rename streets that honor colonial figures with the names of historical Black activists and thinkers.

Here, a sign placed by protesters reads "Harriet Tubman Street."

In Leeds, Britain, the statue of Queen Victoria was marked with graffiti.

In London, protesters wrote "was a racist" underneath a monument of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Outside of the Museum of London Docklands, the statue of a prominent slave-trader, Robert Milligan, was covered with a placard that read "Black Lives Matter," before being removed from its location entirely.

In Edinburgh, Scotland, protesters wrote "Son of slaver" and "Colonialist profiteer" on the statue of Robert Dundas, the son of Henry Dundas who was known for delaying the abolition of slavery.

In Bristol, Britain, protesters used a rope to grab hold of the statue of slave trader Edward Colston in order to tear it down.

Afterwards, the protesters carried the statue to a nearby river and threw it into the water.

Across Belgium, statues of Belgian King Leopold II — one of the most notoriously brutal colonizers of Africa — have been torn down and defaced. Here, a statue of the king is seen covered in red paint in the garden of the African Museum.

Here, a King Leopold II statue is being removed from its location in Ekeren, Belgium after protesters dumped paint over it and damaged it.

And in this photo, demonstrators hold up the flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo at the base of a King Leopold II statue in Brussels.