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Thursday, June 18, 2020

Police investigating after Pierre Elliott Trudeau statue near Toronto painted in blackface

York Regional Police are investigating after a statue of Pierre Elliott Trudeau near Toronto was vandalized. Police reported that the face of the statue was spray-painted black.

Police say that they recieved a report from a local resident in Vaughan that the statue of the former Prime Minister — located in a park that also bears his name — was vandalized at 12:10 p.m on Thursday, June 18.

They are now asking any witnesses or people with information to come forward.

"This type of thing doesn't do anybody any good, and again, that's why it's a crime," Sgt. Dave Mitchell told reporters at the scene. "It's disrespectful. To everybody."

Depending on what the motivation was behind the vandalism, Mitchell said that the incident could be considered a hate crime.

The incident comes amidst growing calls in Canada for statues of historical figures with links to racism and the oppression of minority groups to be taken down.

Hundreds of Canadians have signed a petition asking the City of Vaughan to change its name since the city is named in honour of British diplomat Benjamin Vaughan, who owned several plantations and opposed the emancipation of slaves. 

Current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the son of Pierre Trudeau, came under fire in September 2019 for his widely circulated blackface photos, for which he later apologized.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has yet to comment on the Pierre Trudeau statue being defaced.


by Jody Brimacombe via blogTO

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