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Captain Cook statue and two others in Sydney's Hyde Park attacked by vandals Captain Cook statue and two others in Sydney's Hyde Park attacked by vandals
(about 2 hours later)
Three statues in Sydney’s Hyde Park – including one of Captain Cook – have been attacked by vandals following days of fierce public debate about whether they should be changed.Three statues in Sydney’s Hyde Park – including one of Captain Cook – have been attacked by vandals following days of fierce public debate about whether they should be changed.
Police are investigating “a number of incidents of malicious damage” in the park, believed to have happened between 2am and 3am on Saturday.Police are investigating “a number of incidents of malicious damage” in the park, believed to have happened between 2am and 3am on Saturday.
“Three crime scenes have been established throughout the park and inquiries are continuing,” a spokeswoman said.“Three crime scenes have been established throughout the park and inquiries are continuing,” a spokeswoman said.
The words “change the date” and “no pride in genocide” were spray-painted on the Captain Cook statue, and similar words were scrawled on that of Lachlan Macquarie.The words “change the date” and “no pride in genocide” were spray-painted on the Captain Cook statue, and similar words were scrawled on that of Lachlan Macquarie.
The graffiti attack comes just days after Indigenous broadcaster Stan Grant called for the inscription on the Cook statue – that he discovered the territory in 1770 – to be changed.The graffiti attack comes just days after Indigenous broadcaster Stan Grant called for the inscription on the Cook statue – that he discovered the territory in 1770 – to be changed.
But the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, weighing into the debate on Friday, said Grant was “dead wrong”.But the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, weighing into the debate on Friday, said Grant was “dead wrong”.
Turnbull said the vast majority of Australians would share his horror at the thought of “rewriting history” by editing the inscriptions on statues.Turnbull said the vast majority of Australians would share his horror at the thought of “rewriting history” by editing the inscriptions on statues.
“All of those statues, all of those monuments, are part of our history and we should respect them and preserve them,” he told Neil Mitchell on 3AW radio.“All of those statues, all of those monuments, are part of our history and we should respect them and preserve them,” he told Neil Mitchell on 3AW radio.
“By all means, put up other monuments, put up other signs and sites that explain our history.”“By all means, put up other monuments, put up other signs and sites that explain our history.”
He denounced such a “Stalinist exercise” of trying white out or obliterate parts of Australia’s history.He denounced such a “Stalinist exercise” of trying white out or obliterate parts of Australia’s history.
“You don’t rewrite history by editing stuff out; if you want to write a new chapter of our history, if you want to challenge assumptions in the past, by all means do so,” he said.“You don’t rewrite history by editing stuff out; if you want to write a new chapter of our history, if you want to challenge assumptions in the past, by all means do so,” he said.
A City of Sydney spokeswoman said the council was also cleaning up graffiti that appeared overnight in Martin Place and Macquarie Street.
“Sites affected include the Archibald Memorial Fountain, ANZAC Memorial and statues including the Captain James Cook statue,” she said.
“NSW police have completed forensic work and City cleaning crews have commenced work to remove the unlawful graffiti.”
The assistant immigration minister, Alex Hawke, who is vehemently opposed to changing the date of Australia Day, condemned the attack.
“This disgraceful extreme attack on our history &culture is shameful. Phillip& Cook were enlightened for their times,” he tweeted on Saturday.