A divided crowd made their way down to Victoria City Hall early Saturday Morning, either in protest or in support of the CityB次元官网网址檚 removal of the Sir John A. Macdonald statue from City HallB次元官网网址檚 front steps.
At 7 a.m., the City started to remove the contentious statue, and protesters bearing signs that read B次元官网网址淣o honour in genocideB次元官网网址� stood next to those wearing Canadian and British Columbian flags down their backs.
RELATED:
B次元官网网址淚 disagree with the process that they did in order to get this removed. Three councillors pushed this through, they did not want larger debate on this,B次元官网网址� said Matthew Breeden. B次元官网网址淧eople opposed to this were never given a voice, never given a chance to say B次元官网网址榊ou know what, we want to preserve our history and character, we want to have that statue remain thereB次元官网网址�, their opinion was forfeit.B次元官网网址�
Supporters lined up along the temporary fence to see the statue lifted from its post.
B次元官网网址淚 think that thereB次元官网网址檚 been a real correction happening here,B次元官网网址� said Tsastilqualus. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 have a problem with this statue possibly being put in a museum with true added history, and an explanation of why itB次元官网网址檚 there.B次元官网网址�
Some supporters arrived early for a rally scheduled to start at noon.
B次元官网网址淭he statue is celebrating and glorifying a particular historical figure who was one of the leading architects of cultural genocide,B次元官网网址� said Reuben Rose-Redwood, a member of the Indigenous Solidarity Working Group. B次元官网网址漌eB次元官网网址檙e here to say weB次元官网网址檙e not erasing history, weB次元官网网址檙e making history.B次元官网网址�
RELATED:
Other protesters believed that context was important.
B次元官网网址淪how me a man in 1860 who hasnB次元官网网址檛 said something or done something that is considered not politically correct to modern standards,B次元官网网址� said John, who was uncomfortable giving his last name after people shouted at him in protest. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e not going to find such a person. What, are we going to tear down statues of everyone born before 1900?B次元官网网址�
John was interrupted by booing from a man who questioned JohnB次元官网网址檚 ability, as a White man, to interpret Macdonald, who was a man responsible for genocide.
The man identified as one eighth Metis, but did not want to supply his name.
Debate broke out between both sides, with people shouting across the street to one another.
When the statue was lifted and placed on a truck, two songs began simultaneously, B次元官网网址淣a Na Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye,B次元官网网址� from supporters, and B次元官网网址淥h, Canada!B次元官网网址� from protesters.
The Sir John A. Macdonald statue has been removed from Victoria City Hall to the sound of a very divided crowd
B次元官网网址� Victoria B次元官网网址 (@VictoriaB次元官网网址)
The statue was carried away to be put in temporary storage while a new location is decided upon. City staff immediately began installing an interpretive plaque where the statue once stood.
Like us on and follow us on and
