A statue of Winston Churchill was vandalized overnight in London’s Parliament Square. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning, with slogans such as “Zionist war criminal,” “Stop the Genocide,” “Never again is Now,” and “Globalise the Intifada” painted on the bronze statue of the former British Prime Minister. The statue, unveiled in 1973 and located near the Houses of Parliament, was also marked with pro-Palestine messages, including the phrase “Greetings from the Hague” in Dutch.
Images captured last night show heritage wardens trying to cover the graffiti on the statue’s plinth with black plastic tape. These wardens, employed by the Greater London Authority, are responsible for overseeing Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square Gardens. According to a 2016 Freedom of Information request, their duties include monitoring the area’s condition and activities.
Witnesses reported that the area has been cordoned off for cleaning following the incident. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest of a 38-year-old man who was caught spray painting the statue. The man was taken into custody on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage.
This is not the first time Churchill’s statue has been defaced. Similar incidents occurred during past protests, including a Black Lives Matter demonstration in June 2020 and a climate protest in October of the same year. The 12-foot-tall monument, designed by Ivor Roberts-Jones and unveiled in 1973 by Lady Clementine Churchill, is among the 12 statues located in or around Parliament Square, honoring various prominent figures such as Abraham Lincoln and Nelson Mandela.
