LONDON (UK) – A statue of 19th century colonialist Cecil Rhodes should not be removed from an Oxford University college, said Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday, adding that history should not be edited.
Last month, authorities of Oriel College, Oxford, said they wanted to take down the statue of Rhodes in the wake of a campaign which targeted the statue as one that glorified racism. Campaigners also said it was an affront to Black students.
It would be like “trying to bowdlerise or edit our history … like some politician sneakily trying to change his Wikipedia entry,” the Standard quoted the PM as saying.
“I’m pro-heritage, I’m pro-history, and I’m in favour of people understanding our past with all its imperfections,” Johnson added.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
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