London Socialist Historians Group
Media Release 20th May
Contact Dr Keith Flett 07803 167266
Historians say that after Commission Report Oriel College Rhodes statue must go
The London Socialist Historians Group, which convenes the socialist history seminar at the Institute of Historical Research in London, has called on Oxford University to accept the report of an independent Commission and remove the statue of Cecil Rhodes as Oriel College Oxford.
The Commission was appointed nearly a year ago after demands that the statue be taken down by supporters of Black Lives Matter and many others.
Reports now suggest that while the University will implement many of the commission’s recommendations it will not remove the Rhodes statue for legal and financial reasons.
The historians say that while it is accepted that the statue is a symbol of wider issues relating to Cecil Rhodes historic association with the University, it is in a very public position in the centre of Oxford. They believe it should be taken down and be displayed elsewhere with appropriate contextual details. If this can’t yet be done at the very least the statue should be covered up.
Cecil Rhodes achieved cult status in Britain in the first half of the twentieth century with roads and buildings named after him. However from the 1960s on there has been a much wider appreciation of the imperial role Rhodes played and his personal racism.
LSHG Convenor Dr Keith Flett said, it is not acceptable that after a year has passed Oxford University still doesn’t plan to take down the Rhodes statue, despite the report of the independent commission. Some may reflect that the protesters who took down the Colston statue in Bristol last year found a better way of addressing official inertia on parts of British history that cannot and should not be ignored.
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