British Insitutions Warned Not to Remove Statues Over Protests or Face Funding Cut

The statue of 17th century merchant, Edward Colston, falls into the water during a Black Lives Matter protest in Bristol, England, on June 7, 2020. Keir Gravil via Reuters

The British government has sent a letter to several museums and cultural institutions warning that their public funding could be called into question should they remove statues or other historical objects that have become the focus of protests or complaints.

The issue of how Britain should deal with the legacies of its past, especially its role in slavery and colonialism, has been the subject of heated debate since the statue of Edward Colston, a 17th-century merchant, was toppled by Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters in Bristol in June.