29 Statues Taken Down For Glorifying What’s Wrong With Out Society

The recent ruthless killing of George Floyd and the protests that followed have prompted many people to reevaluate many statues and monuments dedicated to the so-called ‘heroes’ whose human rights violations often go undermined. Tired of this glorification of oppressors, protesters and city governments all over the world have started taking down monuments dedicated to historical figures like Christopher Columbus and Edward Colston. However, this isn’t the first time these types of sculptures are taken down – read about some of the most notable ones that were taken down for glorifying what’s wrong with our society in the gallery below!

#1

Image source: Walt Disney World

Bust of Bill Cosby (American comedian) in Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida, taken down in July, 2015 due to accusations of sexual assault.

#2

Image source:  Man vyi

Commemorative brick dedicated to Gary Glitter (English glam rock singer) removed from the Wall of Fame at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. It was taken down in November, 2008 due to Glitter’s possession of child pornography, child sexual abuse, and attempted rape of minors.

#3

Image source: Audrey

Statue of Joe Paterno (American football player) in Penn State’s Beaver Stadium, Pennsylvania, taken down on July 22, 2012 due to his child sex abuse scandals.

#4

Image source:  Michael Rivera

A Confederate memorial in Jacksonville, Florida, taken down on June 9, 2020 as part of the mayor’s plan to remove all confederate monuments, memorials, and markers during the George Floyd protests.

#5

Image source: Simon Cobb

Statue of Edward Colston (English merchant) in Bristol, UK, taken down on 7 June, 2020 for his involvement in slave trade.

#6

Image source: Corgan

“One Riot, One Ranger” statue In Dallas, Texas, removed on June 4, 2020 for its reference to a riot by a white lynch mob and for the statue’s model being used in helping prevent black students from enrolling in public schools.

#7

Image source: John Scholte

Statue of Leopold II Of Belgium (King of the Belgians) in Ekeren, Belgium, taken down in June, 2020 for colonialist exploitation and other atrocities.

#8

Image source:  Smash the Iron Cage

Statue of Christopher Columbus (Italian navigator and admiral) in Richmond, Virginia, taken down, spray-painted, set on fire, and thrown into a nearby lake by protestors on June 9, 2020 in solidarity with Native Americans.

#9

Image source: Jim Kenney

Statue of Frank Rizzo (American police officer and politician) in Center City Philadelphia, taken down on June 2, 2020 for his strong opposition against desegregation.

#10

Image source: Unknown U.S. military or Department of Defense employee

Statue of Saddam Hussein (President of Iraq) in Baghdad, Iraq, taken down on April 9, 2003 during the invasion of Iraq by the US forces.

#11

Image source: Kaya

Statue of J.F.C. Hamilton (British Naval Officer and namesake of Hamilton City) in Hamilton, New Zealand, taken down on June 12, 2020 by the request of the Maori Tribal Confederation Waikato Tainui.

#12

Image source:  Paulscrawl

Monument to Robert E. Lee (Confederate General) in New Orleans, Louisiana, taken down on May 19, 2017 as part of a removal of four monuments associated with the Confederacy.

#13

Image source: Kenneth C. Zirkel

Statue of Edward Ward Carmack (newspaperman and political figure) in Tennessee Capitol, taken down in June, 2020 for his views against African Americans and encouraged retaliation against the support of the Civil Rights Movement.

#14

Image source: Danie van der Merwe

Statue of Cecil John Rhodes (British mining magnate and politician) in Cape Town, South Africa, taken down on 9 April, 2015 as part of a protest to decolonialize education in South Africa.

#15

Image source: Anne B. Hood

Statue of Orville L. Hubbard (Mayor of Dearborn) in Dearborn, Michigan, taken down on September 29, 2015 due to his strong views and policies supporting racial segregation.

#16

Image source: Peter Trimming / Statue of Robert Milligan / CC BY-SA 2.0

Statue of Robert Milligan (Scottish merchant) in the Museum of London Docklands, taken down on June 9, 2020 for him being a slave owner.

#17

Image source: Mike Peel

Dunham Massey Hall Sundial, taken down in June, 2020 as a degrading depiction of slavery during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.

#18

Image source: USA Today

Statue of Jerry Richardson (Former NFL Owner) in Charlotte, North Carolina, taken down to prevent possible vandalism due to allegations of sexual harassment and racist remarks to his former employees.

#19

Image source:  Infrogmation of New Orleans

Bust of John Mcdonogh in New Orleans, Louisiana, taken down on June 13, 2020 for being a slave owner.

#20

Image source: Daderot

Statue of Jefferson Davis in Frankfort, Kentucky, moved on June 13, 2020 by a vote of the Historic Properties Advisory Commission to the Jefferson Davis State Historic Site due to him being a slave owner.

#21

Image source:  Peetlesnumber1

Statue of Kate Smith (American singer) at the Xfinity Live! Philadelphia Arena, taken down on April 21, 2019 due to controversy surrounding her 1931 recordings of “That’s Why Darkies Were Born” and “Pickaninny Heaven”.

#22

Image source:  Patche99z

Statue of Michael Jackson (American singer) in London, though officially not stated, it is speculated that it was removed in September, 2013 due to sexual allegations against Jackson.

#23

Image source: Richmond On The James

Statue of Williams Carter Wickham in Richmond, Virginia, taken down on June 6, 2020 due to him being a slave owner.

#24

Image source: Daniel Uhlfelder

Statue of Charles Linn (Captain in the Confederate Navy) in Birmingham, Alabaman, toppled on May 31, 2020 by protestors who unsuccessfully attempted to remove the nearby Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument.

#25

Image source:  Sarah Stierch

Slave Auction Block in Fredericksburg, Virginia, taken down on June 5, 2020 as a symbol of racial oppression.

#26

Image source: Ser Amantio di NicolaoChe

Statue of Appomattox in Alexandria, Virginia, removed on June 2, 2020, was planned for removal after long discussions by the owner, United Daughters of the Confederacy.

#27

Image source:  Hal Jespersen

Monument to Robert E. Lee (Confederate General) in New Orleans, Louisiana, taken down on May 19, 2017 as part of a removal of four monuments associated with the Confederacy.

#28

Image source: CBS

Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Birmingham, Alabama, removed in June, 2020, said to be taken down to ease continuing unrest originating from the George Floyd protests.

#29

Image source: Martin Falbisoner

Jefferson Davis Memorial in Richmond, Virginia, taken down on June 10, 2020 by protesters for depicting Jefferson Davis, a slave owner.