A Palestinian flag was stuck on top of the commemorative statue of Amy Winehouse by protesters over the weekend – and people have voiced their anger at the vandalism online.
Twelve people were arrested during the demonstration on Saturday which saw thousands march through the streets of London.
Police made arrests for various alleged offences, including inciting racial hatred, suspicion of support for a proscribed organisation in relation to a placard, and assaulting emergency workers.
The bronze statue of the late singer stands in Camden Market and shows Amy wearing a Star of David necklace.
But protesters defaced the sculpture by adhering a sticker of the Palestinian flag over the Back to Black singer’s necklace.
A Palestinian flag was stuck on top of the commemorative statue of Amy Winehouse in Camden Town by protesters over the weekend. The sticker was placed on her Star of David necklace
The statue was unveiled in Camden Market in 2014, standing at 5ft 9ins tall and showing the late singer wearing the necklace
The statue commemorates the life of Amy, who died tragically in 2011, and is often laden with flowers
Amy, whose album Back to Black is one of the best selling in British history, died in 2011 after a drinking binge
The act has received condemnation on social media with multiple users branding it ‘disgraceful’.
One person asked: ‘How low can some people go?’
Paul Madill posted: ‘That is utterly disgraceful. So sad to see this.’
Neil M Reggae simply wrote ‘gross’ and Tom Fenn described the vandalism as ‘revolting’
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: ‘Covering the Star of David, a well-known symbol of Judaism, on the statue of a British Jewish singer, with a sticker of the Palestinian Authority flag is antisemitic.
‘So much for the “this is just criticism of Israel” excuse we hear so often from antisemites who are too cowardly or ignorant to admit what they are.
‘Right now, 69% of British Jews say that they are less likely to show visible signs of their Judaism right now.
‘When even a statue of a Jewish person can’t get away with it, is that any surprise?
People voiced their anger at the act online with several users branding the incident ‘disgraceful’
‘We have spoken to Camden Market, which has confirmed that the sticker has now been removed.’
A Camden Market spokesperson said:
‘We were made aware on Monday February 19 that a member of the public had placed a sticker over the Star of David necklace on the Amy Winehouse statue in the North Yard of Camden Market.
‘This was removed immediately and the incident was reported to the police.
‘Camden Market remains first and foremost a place of diversity – a global destination that welcomes everyone.
‘Any form of discrimination on our estate will not be tolerated.’
Standing at 5ft 9ins, the statue was erected in 2014, three years after Amy’s tragic death.
The sculpture features the singer’s signature beehive hairstyle and is often laden with flowers.
Amy, whose album Back to Black is one of the best selling in British history, died in 2011 after a drinking binge.
A man appeared to argue with police as the procession turned unruly at Hyde Park Corner
Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn took part in Saturday’s pro-Palestine march in central London
A woman was arrested after being spotted with a cardboard sign stating ‘Long Live The Intifada’
The woman was apprehended after allegedly waving a banner in support of a banned organisation
Protesters met at the south of Park Lane on Saturday, holding banners calling for a ‘ceasefire now’ and chanting ‘free, free Palestine’, before leaving for a designated spot near the Israeli embassy where speeches were made.
Among the speakers was former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Palestinian ambassador to the UK Husam Zomlot, who both called for ‘justice’ for the Palestinian people.
Just before 6.30pm the Met posted on X, formerly Twitter: ‘Today’s protest has now fully concluded.
‘There were 12 arrests for placard related offences, assaults on officers and refusal to remove face coverings. Thankfully, none of the officers who were assaulted were seriously injured.
‘Despite these arrests, the overwhelming majority who took part were peaceful and acted entirely with the law. We worked closely with the organisers and their stewarding team in the run up to and during the protest and we’re grateful for their cooperation.’
Shocking footage emerged after the march of pro-Palestinian protesters hurling abuse at a lone counter-demonstrator who was calling Hamas terrorists.
The man had objects thrown at him by angry protesters as he held a sign calling Hamas a ‘terrorist organisation’, with members of the crowd also attempting to rip the placard from his grasp.
The sign read: ‘Please don’t attack me! Do you agree Hamas is terrorist organisation, yes or yes?’
However, it appeared to draw a furious response from some pro-Palestine activists who threw bottles, soil and other objects thrown towards him, while one person attempted to hit him with a wooden pole.
The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said on February 17, 2024 that at least 28,858 people have been killed in the territory during the war between Palestinian militants and Israel
Police officers inside the cordon at the Israeli embassy in Kensington High Street, London
Police officers stand shoulder to shoulder as the march takes place. Some 1,500 officers had been brought in from across the country to maintain order
A mass of slogans and placards could be seen along Park Lane, with demonstrators demanding an end to the siege of Gaza
Others were heard shouting ‘w****r’, with chants of ‘Free, Free Palestine’ aimed towards him.
Some activists were seen urging those infuriated by the sign to walk away, while two security personnel were also spotted trying to calm tensions.
has contacted Camden Council and the Metropolitan Police for comment.