Last night, the statue of Mary Seacole, the 19th-century Jamaican-born nurse who overcame racism and injustice to nurse soldiers during the Crimean War, was vandalised in what is thought to be a racially motivated attack.
The attack comes a day before the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s death.
Trevor Sterling, Chair of Mary Seacole Trust and Senior Partner at Moore Barlow expresses dismay and says, “This is an example of the paucity of education amongst those who are racially motivated and the plethora of ignorance.
“We need to improve the dialogue and understanding about what being British is and what being British means, as well as understanding the contribution of those from diverse backgrounds through time, which is what has made Britain, Britain.
“Mary Seacole is a symbol of the NHS, diversity, and social justice, and her contributions were of real value this country. I hope that this will highlight the need to enhance education on the subject of what being British means and who the British really are.”
The police are involved and are undertaking their investigation. The statue will be cleaned and restored to its original design.
