A Basingstoke councillor is urging the police to take action against "anarchist thugs" after Winston Churchill's memorial was defaced.

Someone scrawled "was a racist" on the memorial of the wartime Prime Minister in Parliament Square this afternoon as tens of thousands descended on the capital for an anti-racism march. 

Activists who turned out in response to George Floyd's death were divided at the base of the statue. The Evening Standard reports some were jeering "Churchill was a racist" as others intervened to stop further damage occurring.

Cllr Tristian Robinson described his disdain at the graffiti and said today's antics were unacceptable. 

The Conservative, who represents Sherborne St John, wrote "Another day of violence, criminal activity and thuggery in our capital.

"Sir Winston Churchill was the man who looked at the war ravaged continent of Europe and would not walk blindly on the other side.

Cllr Robinson added: "He worked tirelessly to inspire a national coalition to defeat fascist Nazi Germany. In the dark days of 1940, the United Kingdom stood almost alone in Europe against a regime which would have annihilated anyone not of pure Ayran race.

"To see that man's statue defaced during a demonstration supposedly about fighting racism is beyond belief.

Cllr Robinson called for action against the perpetrators, writing: "We need to see the Police be allowed to stand up to these thugs, arrest and charge the perpetrators. Peaceful protest must continue to be allowed as a pillar of democracy, but those anarchist thugs who manipulate any cause for their own ends need to be rooted out."

Basingstoke Gazette:

The incident provoked debate on social media over whether or not the former Prime Minister was "racist" or held offensive views. 

Television presenter Piers Morgan tweeted: "Memo to protesters in Westminster today: defacing Sir Winston Churchill's statue on the 76th anniversary of D-Day is not a good way to make your point."

While Author Keith Kahn-Harris put: "Churchill was a racist imperialist who also played a crucial role in defeating fascism in Europe, thereby paving the way for the eventual, albeit highly partial and erratic, reckoning with racism and imperialism in Europe. His legacy is complex. Colston's not so much."

While a self-described socialist Kevin Creagh wrote on the social networking platform: "Churchill was a racist. **** him as well. In his own words: “I hate Indians. They are a beastly people with a beastly religion." "I am strongly in favor of using poisoned gas against uncivilized tribes." "Aryan stock is bound to triumph.""

It comes after the bronze memorial to Edward Colston situated in Bristol city centre since 1895, was torn down after crowds left College Green as part of a Black Lives Matter demonstration.

It had been the subject of an 11,000-strong petition to have it removed.

Basingstoke Gazette:

Colston’s involvement in the slave trade through the British-based Royal African Company was the source of much of the money which he bestowed in Bristol.

The statue was one of a number of landmarks in Bristol to take Colston’s name, although the nearby music venue Colston Hall will be renamed this year as part of a major refurbishment.