It comes as Leeds City Council promised a city-wide review into statues in Leeds (photos: Jonathan Gawthorpe).
![Leeds City Council said it had an obligation to remove graffiti from the statue.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/QVNIMTE1NzU5MDEx.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. Queen Victoria statue
Leeds City Council said it had an obligation to remove graffiti from the statue.
![Council leader Judith Blake said graffiti was not tolerated.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/QVNIMTE1NzU5MDEy.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
!["Murderer" and the "BLM" acronym were among the words daubed on the statue.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/QVNIMTE1NzU5MDQ5.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. Queen Victoria statue
"Murderer" and the "BLM" acronym were among the words daubed on the statue.
![Coun Blake added: "But we recognise feelings are running high. That's why we want to reach out and set up a proper dialogue (with the public), so we can move forward in a peaceful and constructive way, that takes all views into account."](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/QVNIMTE1NzU5MTUw.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. Queen Victoria statue
Coun Blake added: "But we recognise feelings are running high. That's why we want to reach out and set up a proper dialogue (with the public), so we can move forward in a peaceful and constructive way, that takes all views into account."
![A review of Leeds' statues will be led by former Armley councillor Alison Lowe, who was the first black woman to be elected to the authority in 1990.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/QVNIMTE1NzU5MTUx.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
5. Queen Victoria statue
A review of Leeds' statues will be led by former Armley councillor Alison Lowe, who was the first black woman to be elected to the authority in 1990.
![Various words were sprayed on the statue, including 'Black Lives Matter'.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/QVNIMTE1NzU5MTUy.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
6. Queen Victoria statue
Various words were sprayed on the statue, including 'Black Lives Matter'.