The statue, known as the Emancipation Monument, has been in Boston Central Park since 1879. The monument is an exact copy of a monument that was erected in Washington three years earlier.
–
A copy of the monument was erected in Boston because the author of the statue, Thomas Bol, was born in the city.
–
Although the monument is designed to commemorate the abolition of slavery in the United States, there are now objections to the black man kneeling before the white president.
–
“Today I had to hear that it is offensive to look at this work of art, and there is no room in the Boston landscape for works that embarrass at least one group of people,” said Ecua Holmes, vice-chair of the arts commission.
–
In his turn, the statement of the mayor Martins Walsh says that the statue makes both Boston citizens and guests feel uncomfortable.
–
A petition demanding the removal of the monument has been signed by 12,000 people.
–
The date of demolition of the monument is not yet known, and officials have said that the technical details will be agreed at the next meeting of the commission on July 14.
–
The Lincoln Monument has been at the crossroads of discussions since 2018, when Boston launched a general campaign to evaluate monuments and other public works of art to see if they adequately reflect the city’s diversity and offend any minority community.
–
The commission pays special attention to works of art with a “problematic history”.
–
“As we continue to work to make Boston a fairer city, it is important to evaluate the stories told by public art in each of our neighborhoods,” Walsh said.
–
The original of the monument in Washington is also under threat.
–
Protesters against the black death of George Floid during a police arrest operation in Minneapolis in May this year have also threatened to destroy the controversial Lincoln Statue, which is now guarded by the National Guard.
— .
