A statue of Frederick Douglass, one of America’s most prominent abolitionists and African American leaders, was torn down overnight in Rochester, New York during the Fourth of July weekend.
Why would anyone tear down a statue of Frederick Douglass?
Rochester news affiliate WXXI News reported, “Rochester Police are investigating damage done to a statue of Frederick Douglass in Maplewood Park. It happened over the weekend, and police say that the statue was torn off its base, and left about 50 feet from its pedestal.”
Frederick Douglass statue removed at Rochester park https://t.co/NZgPq1RNgm
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) July 5, 2020
Police: ‘In addition to the damage at the bottom of the statue, one of the fingers on the left hand of the statue was damaged’
“The statue had been placed over the fence to Genesee River gorge and was leaning against the fence,” the report noted.
WXXI added, “Police say in addition to the damage at the bottom of the statue, one of the fingers on the left hand of the statue was damaged. Aside from that damage, there was no graffiti on the statue or in the surrounding park.”
Good chance that Frederick Douglass just got up and left on its own.
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) July 5, 2020
Many Douglass statues erected in 2018 to celebrate the black American icon’s 200th birthday
“The statue has been removed for repairs,” the report said.
WXXI observed that the statue was “one of 13 Douglass statues that were placed around Rochester in 2018 in honor of his 200th birthday.”
Just so the “protestors” know, this is what Frederick Douglass looked like. pic.twitter.com/gDhF4i0XXy
— Ben Jammin ?? (@xBenJamminx) July 5, 2020
Douglass was a former slaver who became a leading abolitionist
One of the statues was vandalized by two teenagers in 2018, who claimed to be drunk when committed the act and had no political motive.
Frederick Douglass was a former slave who escaped to the North where he became an abolitionist leader and became close with President Abraham Lincoln.
Rochester Police were not available for comment and no motive has yet been reported for why the the statue was torn down.