Activists topple statue of Canada’s first PM in Montreal

Sir John A. Macdonald served as the first PM of Canada between 1867-1873 and again held the post from 1878-1891.

Activists in Canada’s Montreal have toppled a statue of the country’s first PM, John A. MacDonald, who was linked to policies that led to the death of many indigenous people in the 19th Century.

Take a look:

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Video shared on social media captured the moment.

https://twitter.com/noreornot/status/1299787441998639104?s=20

“Whatever one might think of John A. MacDonald, destroying a monument in this way is unacceptable,” Quebec Premier Francois Legault wrote in a tweet.

“We must fight racism, but destroying parts of our history is not the solution. Vandalism has no place in our democracy and the statue must be restored,” Legault added.

Who was Sir John A. Macdonald?

Sir John A. Macdonald served as the first PM of Canada between 1867-1873 and again held the post from 1878-1891. In total, he was PM for 19 years.

In recent years, Macdonald’s legacy has come under fresh scrutiny due to his alleged racist attitudes and brutal policies toward indigenous people and Asian immigrants. He was also accused of allowing famine and disease to kill many indigenous people.