Edward Colston statue protesters are wrong to rip up our history – Yorkshire Post Letters

AM I the only one of your readers to condemn the pulling down of statues of UK historical figures? I’m fully aware that many in the 1600s made their money in the slave trade which with hindsight was a terrible thing to do.

Many, including Edward Colston, also regretted their actions and tried to atone for them by philanthropic work building schools, hospitals, museums and giving much to the poor. Colston himself left all his money to the city of Bristol when he died.

Sir Winston Churchill’s statue was also defiled. Would those committing such vandalism have preferred to have Herr Hitler take over the UK and obliterate all those he deemed undesirable individuals, including Jews and black people? Protest for your rights if you must but please don’t destroy our history.

From: Paul Morley, Long Preston, Skipton.

I ASSUME that police officers standing by whilst public order offences – and acts of criminal damage were committed – were doing so on the instructions of senior officers.

If so, then what constitutes a criminal offence should be explained to these senior officers. If they find they don’t agree with this, they should seek alternative employment.

From: Steve Ayton, Haworth.

I WOULD never condone slavery in the modern world, but I am not stupid enough to think that tearing down statues of people once venerated will remove slavery from history.

Perhaps they should take a leaf from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, who recognise that keeping the memory of horrors alive is what stops them being repeated.

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James Mitchinson

Editor