Boston To Remove Statue Depicting Abraham Lincoln With Freed Black Man At His Feet

Members of the Boston Art Commission voted unanimously Tuesday evening to remove Boston's copy of Thomas Ball's sculpture Emancipation Memorial from Park Square.

Boston artist Tory Bullock said the sculpture is a whitewashed portrayal that denigrates an entire group of people.

A handful of people who spoke at the meeting were in favor of keeping the sculpture where it is and adding context.

"It needs to have people talk about where the pose came from, why the statue was paid for by freed men, and basically how that pose, those attitudes continue, how this sort of white paternalism informs us."

Commission Vice Chair and artist Ekua Holmes says she imagines the newly emancipated people who funded this sculpture would have chosen different imagery for themselves, if they'd had the choice.