WATCH: George Washington Statue Destroyed by Rioters; General Grant, Francis Scott Key, Others Torn Down Across U.S., Too
By New York Post. Protesters in Portland, Oregon, wrapped a statue of George Washington in an American flag, lit it on fire — then pulled it down Thursday night, according to a report.
The demonstrators toppled the towering bronze sculpture of the first US president — who owned slaves in the 1700s — during a protest on the eve of Juneteeth, a holiday celebrating the abolition of slavery, over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, according to CBS affiliate KOIN-TV.
A statue of George Washington has been pulled down with ropes at NE 57th & Sandy near the German American Society. #koin6news #PDXprotests #protest2020 #Portland #BlackLivesMatter #BLMPDX #BLM #Oregon #Investigation #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #vandalism #spraypaint #statue #rosecity pic.twitter.com/xmWYtpcbJE
— Jennifer Dowling (@JenDowlingKoin6) June 19, 2020
After the founding father’s statue came crashing down, vandals defaced it with graffiti, then left it face-down in Rose City Park before fleeing around 11 p.m., the station reported.
They spray-painted the words “F–K COPS” and “BIG FLOYD” on the statue’s base, according to footage posted on Twitter.
Portland police arrived later but it wasn’t immediately clear if any arrests were made, according to the station. (Read more from “George Washington Statue Destroyed by Rioters” HERE)
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Washington Statue Isn’t the Only One Torn Down this Week
By Marty Johnson Protesters in San Francisco on Friday toppled the statue of former President Grant, who led the Union Army during the Civil War, in Golden Gate Park.
San Francisco police said that approximately 400 people gathered around 8 p.m. to take down the statue, though no arrests were made, according to NBC Bay Area.
Also torn down in the park on Friday were the statues of St. Junipero Serra and Francis Scott Key, who wrote the lyrics to “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
#BREAKING: Demonstrators topple statues in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. @hurd_hurd will have details on our News at 11. https://t.co/RvmlMqu73s pic.twitter.com/iUZE28AvdD
— NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) June 20, 2020
(Read more about the Washington statue, others torn down HERE)
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