New Zealand city removes statue of its 'murderous' namesake

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Nick Perry, Associated Press
Updated 12:49 am CDT, Friday, June 12, 2020

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The New Zealand city of Hamilton on Friday removed a bronze statue of the British naval officer for whom it is named — a man who is accused of killing indigenous Maori people in the 1860s.

The removal by city authorities came a day after a Maori tribe asked for the statue be taken down and one Maori elder threatened to tear it down himself.

Cities around the world are taking steps to remove statues that represent cultural or racial oppression as support grows for the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police last month in Minneapolis.

Mayor Paula Southgate said a growing number of people found the statue personally and culturally offensive.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/article/New-Zealand-city-removes-statue-of-its-15334623.php

[Cobalt Violet]

1. Good for them.

I just wish the idiots in the USA defending Columbus statues could see how offensive they and their beloved statues are. Jesus H Christ even here on DU.

[3Hotdogs]

2. Yeah, but Columbus might'a fallen off the side of the Earth.

It was brave of him to go here. And not only that, he came here three times.





















Yes Allen, its sarcasm.

[cstanleytech]

3. Brave? Not really as he needed $$$ and he hoped he could reach asia faster by sailing west

and bring back spices to get it.
When that fell through and he rediscovered for europe that there was an entirely different land to the west he decided to try to enslave the natives.

[3Hotdogs]

10. It wasn't the land. It was the gold in the land that he brought back to Spain.

[cstanleytech]

11. Wasn't that the goal for his second trip he took once he seized on enslaving the people

on his first voyage when his plan to reach asia came crashing down?

[3Hotdogs]

13. First trip, he brought a small amount of gold.

But he also brought back the story of the city of gold, El Dorado... and the race was on between Spain and Portugal.

[Polybius]

5. Cuomo is not an idiot

Many Democrats, if not most, don't support the removal of his statues.

[Cobalt Violet]

7. You're claiming "many Democrats" support genocide and enslavement.

Where is your proof?

[Polybius]

8. No, you're putting words in my mouth

I'm claiming many Democrats do not support taking the statue down. My proof is here:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142512958

[Cobalt Violet]

12. Nothing there prove what you say. It's not republicans pulling them down.

You want statues of genocidal monsters. Finally, enough people have decided they must go.

[Polybius]

14. The topic headline and posters was enough proof

Cuomo said it himself. People in the thread agreed.

[Cobalt Violet]

15. okay so you're up to 3 people lmao

The statues are being removed and not by republicans.

[Polybius]

16. Cuomo counts as more than a mere person

He's the Governor of the most famous state, arguably.

[Cobalt Violet]

20. have fun worshiping a rapist.

[Polybius]

21. I don't worship anyone

I am just sticking up for Cuomo who you called an idiot.

[Polybius]

23. My Governor is not an idiot

I like Cuomo a lot, but don't worship him. He's far from an idiot.

[Cobalt Violet]

24. The whole fucking world is getting rid of these disgusting statues.

But not Comoa. Oh no, We can't have nice things! We MUST keep being RACIST pieces of shit to Natives.

[Polybius]

25. I think you should work on removing the holiday before deciding to remove the statues of him

Cuomo is not for that either btw.

[geardaddy]

4. They should rename the city, as well

There's a lake here in Minneapolis that was named after then-Secretary of War John C. Calhoun. It has been renamed to its original Dakota name: Bde Maka Ska.

From wikipedia:
In 1817, surveyors sent by Secretary of War Calhoun to map the area around Fort Snelling named the largest lake in what became Minneapolis, Minnesota, for him.[166] Two centuries later, the city of Minneapolis renamed the lake with the Dakota language name Bde Maka Ska, meaning "White Earth Lake" or "White Banks Lake."[167] The Calhoun-Isles Community Band in the Uptown district of Minneapolis changed its name to City of Lakes Community Band in November 2018 to distance itself from Calhoun's pro-slavery legacy following the renaming of the lake.[168]

[Johnyawl]

6. We had an easy change here in Western Washington

The most populous county in the state was named King County to honor William R King, a North Carolina politician who was Pierce's VP for 45 days (He died in office).

In 2005 we officially renamed it to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

[TexasBushwhacker]

17. I hope they come up with a Maori name n/t

[geardaddy]

18. That is my wish, too.

🙂

[dalton99a]

9. Kick

[Cha]

19. Good on them!