Oxford college recommends removal of Cecil Rhodes statue
LONDON (AP) The governing body of Oxford Universitys Oriel College on Wednesday recommended the removal of a statue of Victorian imperialist Cecil Rhodes that has long been the target of protests though it wont be taken down immediately.
The colleges governors said they had voted to launch an independent Commission of Inquiry into the key issues surrounding the Rhodes statue.
In a statement, Oriel Colleges governing body, made up of faculty, said they had expressed their wish to remove the statue of Cecil Rhodes and a plaque to him, adding that this is what they intend to convey to the Independent Commission of Inquiry.
Rhodes made a fortune in the late 19th century from gold and diamond mines where miners labored in brutal conditions. He was an education benefactor whose legacy includes Oxford Universitys prestigious Rhodes scholarships, which have been awarded to international students for over a century.
Famous Rhodes scholars include former U.S. President Bill Clinton and feminist writer Naomi Wolf.
His statue was removed from the University of Cape Town in South Africa in 2015 after students led a Rhodes Must Fall campaign.
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