The statue of a Belgian colonial-era leader, King Leopold II was removed on Tuesday in Antwerp after it was defaced by anti-racism protesters.
Millions died in the Democratic Republic of Congo during Leopold’s reign in the 1800s.
Black Lives Matter protesters expressed anger over the presence of the statue, climbing it while defacing it.
Leopold troops were accused of playing major role in killing millions in Congo with online petitions launched for his statues across the country to be removed.
DR Congo was colonized by Belgium and between 1885 and 1908 while Leopold II was ruling he declared the African country his personal property.
A crowd has climbed onto the statue of colonial King Léopold II in #Brussels chanting “murderer” and waving the flag of the Democratic Republic of Congo where his atrocities took place. #DRC ?? #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/DIH9MGu39M
— Jack Parrock (@jackeparrock) June 7, 2020
His troops were ordered to collect the hands of victims, who were often shot for resisting slave labour.
#Antwerp authorities have removed a statue of colonial Belgian King Leopold II after the weekend’s #BlackLivesMatter protest. The campaign to remove all of them continues. #DRC #KingLeopoldII #Belgium pic.twitter.com/7Io5uAfcMK
— Jack Parrock (@jackeparrock) June 9, 2020
Leopold also imported Congolese for a human zoo in Belgium.
Leopold II voorgoed van zijn sokkel #atvnieuws #LeopoldII #Ekeren https://t.co/0WWrlkuEYT pic.twitter.com/Qrdnj0tyVT
— atv.be (@atvbe) June 9, 2020
Source: Africafeeds.com
