A STATUE of former Ethiopian leader Haile Selassie has been destroyed in a park in London.
Police are investigating the incident which took place at Cannizaro Park, Wimbledon, on Tuesday evening.
Resident Andrew Morris said he saw a mostly-male group of around 100 carrying fliers with Oromo slogans.
He told Press Association while he heard the statue being destroyed, he did not actually see it happening.
Unrest in Ethiopia
The incident follows unrest in Ethiopia sparked by the death of singer Hachalu Hundessa, who was shot dead in the Oromia region this week.
Riots – which has led to the death of 80 people – saw a statue of 19th Century leader Ras Makonnen, the father of Selassie, pulled down.
Hundessa was known for singing about political freedom, having been imprisoned at the age of 17 due to his political activities.
His songs became the rallying call of the 2015 movement which demanded an end to the displacement of the Oromo community.
He recently had become a prominent voice in anti-government protests, that lead to a change in leadership in 2018.
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Bob Marley would be so upset with the Statue of former Ethiopian leader Haile Selassie being destroyed in a London Park by a large group of Ethiopian, protesting about the murder of singer Hachalu Hundessa, who was shot dead in the Oromia region of Ethiopia this week.
The concentration on removing statues rather than removing colour injustice is having unforeseen consequences.