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2020, Online petition to remove the Neill statue in Ayr
Event
- has description | a une description
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The petition, which had garnered 1,186 signatures as of April 17th 2024, laid out the following argument for the statue's removal:
""A brave, resolute and self-reliant solider, universally acknowledged as the first who stemmed the torrent of rebellion in Bengal". Thus reads the plaque beneath the statue of James George Smith Neill, that stands pride of place in the centre of our town. But who was this man?
James George Smith Neill (27 May 1810 – 25 September 1857) was a Scottish military officer of the East India Company, who served during the Indian rebellion of 1857. The rebellion was born from resentment of invasive British-style social reforms, harsh land taxes and summary treatment of some rich landowners and princes, amongst other injustices. General Neill was infamous for numerous indiscriminate killing of Indians in the aftermath of a local massacre, including the execution of prisoners.
In one episode, he is said to have rounded up Brahmins, who had had nothing to do with the event, to wash up the blood of uprising victims from the floor while they were whipped with cat-o-nine-tails until they collapsed. At this point, these innocents were summarily executed by hanging.
The statue of Neill is a personal insult to those of us in Ayr whose ancestors suffered under the British occupation of India. Indeed, we believe that the veneration of such a man stands in stark opposition to the values that we would wish to strive for as a town. We who have signed this petition are clear that this man is not a part of our history we wish to be celebrated.
It is high time that the statue was removed from its current location. Instead, we implore the council to have it placed in a museum, where it can be used to educate future generations about the role of Scottish military officers in the British Empire." - has type | est de type
- contestation
- took place on or within | a eu lieu le ou dans l'intervalle de temps
- 9 June 2020
- is referred to by | est référencé par
- change.org
Linked resources
 Statue of James George Smith Neill |