Johnson: Calling Churchill a 'Racist' Is Crazy

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] British Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently addressed the ongoing anti-racism protests, calling the movement to attack the statue of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, labeling him a 'racist,' "absurd and deplorable."

On the 14th (local time), Johnson wrote in an article for the British daily The Telegraph, stating, "It was miserable to see Churchill's statue buried under protective shields." Johnson acknowledged, "We all understand the depth of emotions revealed by the death of George Floyd," but emphasized, "We must address the essence of the issue, not its symbols. We should focus on the present, not attempt to rewrite the past."

Johnson described former Prime Minister Churchill as a "hero" and "one of this country's great leaders," calling accusations of him being a racist "madness." He added, "He stood alone against racist oppression, and without his resistance, Britain and Europe would have been engulfed by racism." He further stated, "If there is an attempt to remove his statue from Parliament Square, I hope I am not alone in pledging to resist with all my strength until my last breath."

Moreover, Johnson expressed suspicion over the spreading campaigns to edit or revise our cultural landscape, warning, "If we erase the records and images of those we follow, we will face a massive falsehood and distortion of history." He also maintained a critical stance toward violent protests, saying, "We must fight against racism but leave our heritage peacefully. If true change is desired, there are democratic means."

Earlier, Johnson had strongly criticized violent protests related to the anti-racism demonstrations. Following the death of George Floyd, a Black man whose neck was pressed by a white American police officer's knee, protests against racism have continued daily in the UK. On the 7th, anti-racism protesters sprayed graffiti on Churchill's statue in Parliament Square, London, writing "Churchill is a racist."

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