
The burning of effigies of public figures who are disliked for various reasons is piece of political theatre stretching back into history.
It hasnt always been politically progressive. The historian David Cannadine has pointed out that until the late nineteenth century the burning of effigies of Guy Fawkes was associated with reactionary anti-Catholic sentiment.
That specific tradition in England at least has almost passed into history itself.
However the burning of effigies on 5th November has continued and since his election as US President in 2016 Donald Trump has featured regularly, even after he lost in 2020.


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