George Washington statue is covered in a burning American flag before being toppled by Portland protesters in Oregon
- The George Washington statue was pulled down by protesters in Portland, Oregon on Thursday night
- Footage of the incident on the eve of Juneteenth showed the Washington statue draped in a US flag that had been set alight just moments before it was toppled
- Images from the scene show the statue lying face down on the ground and covered in graffiti that read: ‘Genocidal colonist’
- Protesters have been tearing down statues across the country as part of anti-racism demonstrations fueled by George Floyd ‘s death in Minneapolis
A statue of George Washington with a burning American flag draped across it has been toppled by protesters in Portland, Oregon.
The statue, which stood on the lawn of the German American Society in Northeast Portland, was pulled down by protesters on Thursday night.
Footage of the incident on the eve of Juneteenth showed the Washington statue draped in a US flag that had been set alight just moments before it was toppled.
Images from the scene show the statue lying face down on the ground and covered in graffiti that read: ‘Genocidal colonist’.
A statue of George Washington with a burning American flag draped across it was toppled by protesters in Portland, Oregon on Thursday night
Those responsible draped the fallen statue in a second US flag and also set that alight.
The group who brought the statue down scattered before police arrived at the scene, according to local media reports.
Protesters have been tearing down statues across the country as part of anti-racism demonstrations fueled by George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis last month.
That specific George Washington statue dates back to 1926.
It comes after a statue of Thomas Jefferson that was based outside Portland’s Jefferson High School was torn down earlier this week.
The base of the statue had the words ‘slave owner’ and Floyd’s name spray painted across it.
Images from the scene show the statue lying face down on the ground and covered in graffiti that read: ‘Genocidal colonist’
The George Washington incident took place on the 21st day of protests in the city. Thousands of protesters have filled the streets of Portland every night for three weeks following Floyd’s death
The George Washington incident took place on the 21st day of protests in the city.
Thousands of protesters have filled the streets of Portland every night for three weeks following Floyd’s death.
Mayor Ted Wheeler announced this week that Juneteenth will be a paid city holiday starting Friday.
The date of June 19 is the oldest known celebration of the end of slavery in the US.
Anger over racial injustice has broadened in recent weeks to target colonialists, monarchs and explorers, who in some cases destroyed or enslaved local populations across the world in the European scramble for empire and treasure.
It has also reignited debate in the US over symbols associated with the South’s pro-slavery Confederacy.
As recently as this week, California lawmakers decided to remove a Christopher Columbus statue from the state Capitol and concrete barriers were installed around a Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee statue in Virginia.
It comes after a statue of Thomas Jefferson that was based outside Portland’s Jefferson High School was torn down earlier this week
The base of the Jefferson statue had the words ‘slave owner’ and Floyd’s name spray painted across it