Statement from Islington Council on historic memorials and heritage within the borough:

Following recent Black Lives Matter protests and the removal of statues in Bristol and Tower Hamlets, Islington Council’s Heritage Service has investigated the history and origins of all statues, artworks and heritage plaques across the borough. 

The Council is determined to examine the legacy and history behind monuments in our borough to ensure they do not represent issues and events which go against Islington’s long history of equality and fairness. Initial searches, conducted by the Council, indicate that there are no memorials to slavers or the slave trade in Islington.

Cllr Asima Shaikh, executive member for inclusive economy and jobs, said:

“It is an uncomfortable truth that our nation and city owes a large part of its wealth to its role in the slave trade. It is wrong that this is celebrated through the existence of memorials.

“I am pleased to confirm that we believe our borough does not have any statues or memorials celebrating the slave trade, however systemic racism and injustice is much more than statues and plaques. It plagues local people and communities and we are committed to making Islington a fairer place for all, listening to, learning from and acting on the concerns of all communities, including residents from our black and minority ethnic communities, to tackle the inequalities and injustice they face every day.”

Islington Museum and Islington Local History Centre have presented many exhibitions, with accompanying activities, workshop and education sessions, as well as the installation of heritage plaques, to promote and commemorate radical, diverse, working class heritage.

Recent exhibitions and related activities have focused on Islington’s People’s Rights, The Anti-Apartheid Movement, Holloway Prison, the Spanish Civil War and Islington, Journey to Justice human rights movement, LGBTQ+ exhibitions, the Chinese Community in Islington, LGBT History Month and Black History Month each year also sees local talks, walks and activities.