An Oxford University college has voted to remove its controversial statue of Victorian imperialist Cecil Rhodes following mass demonstrations campaigning to take it down.

Cecil Rhodes believed in the primacy of the white race and helped Britain colonize much of southern Africa. Oriel College’s decision is the culmination of years of pressure from groups declaring that “Rhodes Must Fall.” Protests outside the college had ramped up in the past two weeks amid a wider public debate about monuments to racist historical figures, and the recent Black Lives Matter demonstrations across the UK.

But this isn’t the end of the conversation. While the college’s governing body says in a statement that they have “expressed their wish” to remove the statue, they are setting up an independent commission to manage that process and “the issue of the Rhodes legacy,” as well as to improve access and attendance of Black, Asian, and ethnic minority students and faculty.

A spokeswoman for the college tells Artnet News that the commission will determine the next steps, including when the statue will be removed, and where it will be placed. “We hope to be in a position to reveal more details about the commission, its terms of reference and members over the coming weeks,” the spokeswoman says. The statement from the governing body says that the commission will report back by the end of the year. […]

Continue reading: Oxford University Votes to Remove Its Controversial Statue of Victorian Imperialist Cecil Rhodes in the Wake of Mass Protests