Glasgow - Mealy Mouthed Council
What a mealy-mouthed statement from Glasgow Council after anarchists vandalised local memorials in the city including one to the Highland Light Infantry.
“We cannot condone damage to public property and our community safety teams will link with police on how further damage can be avoided, including through the use of CCTV.”
Now you would think that Scotland's largest council would have a stronger message than 'we cannot condone' when it comes to this kind of ugly, intolerant, anti-social behaviour.
https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/18506614.teams-rapid-removal-graffiti/
Teams in rapid removal of graffiti from Glasgow statues after BLM protests
By Stewart Paterson - Glasgow Times
Lord Roberts statue
Council teams have been cleaning up graffiti from statues after several across the city were targeted following anti racism protests in Glasgow.
Statues in George Square, Cathedral Square and Kelvingrove park were vandalised with slogans spray painted onto plinths
Three statues in Kelvingrove park were targeted.
Glasgow City Council said it was aware of the strong feelings towards links to slavery of certain individuals who have statues but cannot condone the vandalism of public monuments.
The bust of Thomas Carlyle at the bridge over the River Kelvin was sprayed.
Yards away on the opposite bank of the river, the memorial to the Highland Light Infantry was sprayed with BLM and an offensive anti police slogan.
At the top of the park at the Park Circus entrance the statue of Lord Roberts, who had led military in South Africa and India, was also sprayed with BLM.
In Cathedral Square the statue of King William III was also targeted with anti-police graffiti.
In George Square the statue of Robert Peel was daubed with paint and slogans.
The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland condemned the vandalism and issued a statement along with a photograph of the damage to the King William Statue.
It said: “The Orange Order are rightly proud of the civil and religious liberties delivered by King William III that our citizens enjoy today.
“However civil rights and liberty come with a responsibility to act lawfully and uphold government medical advice not to gather publicly in order to protect lives.
“We call on the Leader of Glasgow City Council and the First Minister to condemn these offensive acts and provide Police Scotland with the necessary resource to protect our public memorials.”
The council condemned the vandalism and said work had already been started to look into how the city’s history with slavery is represented.
Council teams worked quickly on Sunday and Monday to remove the paint and return the statues to normal.
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “The graffiti that appeared on statues in George Square, Kelvingrove Park and other places over the weekend has been removed or is in the course of being removed.
“We are acutely aware of the strength of feeling that exists over Glasgow’s links to trans-Atlantic slavery and the determination many have for change in how the city’s history should be regarded.
“We have commissioned an in-depth academic study on the city’s links to the historical slave trade and how that has shaped the streets, statues and buildings of modern Glasgow.
“The findings of this study will be put forward for consultation and the public’s voice will be heard on how the city should respond.
“We cannot condone damage to public property and our community safety teams will link with police on how further damage can be avoided, including through the use of CCTV.”
Teams in rapid removal of graffiti from Glasgow statues after BLM protests
By Stewart Paterson - Glasgow Times
Lord Roberts statue
Council teams have been cleaning up graffiti from statues after several across the city were targeted following anti racism protests in Glasgow.
Statues in George Square, Cathedral Square and Kelvingrove park were vandalised with slogans spray painted onto plinths
Three statues in Kelvingrove park were targeted.
Glasgow City Council said it was aware of the strong feelings towards links to slavery of certain individuals who have statues but cannot condone the vandalism of public monuments.
The bust of Thomas Carlyle at the bridge over the River Kelvin was sprayed.
Yards away on the opposite bank of the river, the memorial to the Highland Light Infantry was sprayed with BLM and an offensive anti police slogan.
At the top of the park at the Park Circus entrance the statue of Lord Roberts, who had led military in South Africa and India, was also sprayed with BLM.
In Cathedral Square the statue of King William III was also targeted with anti-police graffiti.
In George Square the statue of Robert Peel was daubed with paint and slogans.
The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland condemned the vandalism and issued a statement along with a photograph of the damage to the King William Statue.
It said: “The Orange Order are rightly proud of the civil and religious liberties delivered by King William III that our citizens enjoy today.
“However civil rights and liberty come with a responsibility to act lawfully and uphold government medical advice not to gather publicly in order to protect lives.
“We call on the Leader of Glasgow City Council and the First Minister to condemn these offensive acts and provide Police Scotland with the necessary resource to protect our public memorials.”
The council condemned the vandalism and said work had already been started to look into how the city’s history with slavery is represented.
Council teams worked quickly on Sunday and Monday to remove the paint and return the statues to normal.
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “The graffiti that appeared on statues in George Square, Kelvingrove Park and other places over the weekend has been removed or is in the course of being removed.
“We are acutely aware of the strength of feeling that exists over Glasgow’s links to trans-Atlantic slavery and the determination many have for change in how the city’s history should be regarded.
“We have commissioned an in-depth academic study on the city’s links to the historical slave trade and how that has shaped the streets, statues and buildings of modern Glasgow.
“The findings of this study will be put forward for consultation and the public’s voice will be heard on how the city should respond.
“We cannot condone damage to public property and our community safety teams will link with police on how further damage can be avoided, including through the use of CCTV.”
