Taggers defaced the landmark statue of Gen. Philip Sheridan at Belmont and Lake Shore Drive Wednesday in a so-called “protest” against police, the mayor, and the colonization of America. A Twitter account named “no racist monuments” celebrated the defacement.
“This is a genocidal monument,” said a banner that was left behind by the taggers.
“Decolonize,” said another.
Messages were scrawled on the statue in blue and fluorescent orange spray paint.
“F*ck CPD.” “F*ck Lori.” “#Decolonize.” “Landback.”
Sheridan is one of the few U.S. Army officers to ever be named General of the Army or “five star general.” He led many Civil War battles for the Union and later fought the Indian Wars. He was a key figure in the development of Yellowstone National Park.
According to the Twitter account, “activists” defaced the monument “demanding immediate removal of the Sheridan statue in Lincoln Park.” The statue is located in Lakeview.
The account went on to call for “REAL decolonization. That means rematriation of this land to Native nations and reparations for the theft and genocide this city is founded on.”
Earlier this month, the same group celebrated the defacement of a Chicago Blackhawks statue outside the United Center.
