Fury as academic defends pulling down statues on Radio 4 and tells the station that actions by Black Lives Matter protesters could be seen as an ‘energising source of hope’
- An academic defended toppling statues on BBC Radio 4’s Thought for the Day
- Professor Tina Beattie’s comments provoked anger among some listeners
- Beattie claimed the actions could be considered an ‘energising source of hope’
- Comes as police release images of 15 people who felled Edward Colston statue
Toppling statues during Black Lives Matter protests could be seen as ‘an energising source of hope’, an academic told Radio 4’s Thought for the Day.
Professor Tina Beattie, appearing on the Today show’s faith-orientated 7.45am slot, bemoaned the ‘glorification of the British Empire’ and the ‘white-washing of much of this country’s past’.
The Catholic Studies lecturer, at the University of Roehampton, London, discussed the West being ‘confronted with the dark underbelly of its own past’ by the BLM movement, adding: ‘To topple heroes from their pedestals, and attend to those whose stories have been silenced, can be a catalyst for change and an energising source of hope.’
Professor Tina Beattie provoked controversy with her comments over the toppling of statues
Edward Colston’s statue in Bristol was pulled down by protestors over his slave trade links
Professor Beattie’s comments came after Avon and Somerset Police released the images of 15 protesters suspected of toppling a statue of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol and pushing it into the harbour as part of a criminal damage probe.
The Thought for the Day slot was criticised by Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen, who said the BBC shouldn’t be a place to ‘encourage people to break the law’.
He added: ‘It’s now known police are searching for those who pulled down the statue of Colston and hope to apprehend those responsible.
‘It’s completely unacceptable to suggest on Radio 4, the BBC or any other programme that people should be breaking the law and committing criminal damage to make their point.’
Protestors attacked the statue and sprayed it with graffiti, before pulling down the monument
The police have asked for help identifying 15 people involved in pulling down the statue
A BBC spokesman said: ‘Thought for the Day is a personal reflection from a faith perspective on topical subjects, as was the case with this contribution from Tina Beattie.’
Professor Beattie did not respond to a request for comment.