The famous Robert the Bruce statue and rotunda at Borestone were vandalised with graffiti on Friday.
This morning, “robert was a racist bring down the statue” was discovered painted on the rotunda. On the statue of the former Scottish Monarch was “racist king BLM Black Lives Matter”.
— Chris🏴 (@arabforlife83) June 12, 2020
“The comments painted on the statue are ill-informed. Robert Bruce pre-dated slavery. This is wanton vandalism. It’s heartbreaking to see", said Bannockburn Scottish National Party (SNP) councillor Alasdair Macpherson.
“I hope the police catch the culprits", he added.
Twitter users were quick to condemn the vandalism.
— Effie Deans (@Effiedeans) June 12, 2020
Others suggested that the vandalism was likely committed by unionists looking to stir up division.
— THE BLACK SALTIRE#FBSI (@80_mcswan) June 12, 2020
— Celtic witch (@TomneyKaren) June 12, 2020
Some also called for the removal of the statue of William Wallace, another prominent Scottish Independence figure.
— Jonesy (@GeeJayJon) June 12, 2020
Some people claimed Robert the Bruce was racist against the English.
— mr worldwide #1 stan (@HellaHadouken) June 12, 2020
Many others, including rugby players from Bannockburn RFC, have offered to help clean the statue. The effigy was designed by Charles d’Orville Pilkington Jackson and unveiled on June 24, 1964 by Her Majesty the Queen.
The attack comes as the United Kingdom is embroiled in a debate about maintaining the statues of controversial historical figures amid outrage against racism and police brutality in the US.
Statues directly linked to people involved in Britain's former slave trade such as Edward Colston have been removed by demonstrators.
