Protesters placed a Palestinian flag on top of Amy Winehouse’s memorial statue over the weekend, and people have expressed their anger at the vandalism online.
Twelve people were arrested during Saturday’s demonstration in which thousands of people marched through the streets of London.
Police made arrests for a variety of alleged offences, including inciting racial hatred, suspicion of supporting a banned organization in relation to a banner 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 sticking a sticker of the Palestinian flag on the Back to Black singer’s necklace.
Protesters placed a Palestinian flag on top of the Amy Winehouse memorial statue in Camden Town over the weekend. The sticker was placed on her Star of David necklace.
The statue was unveiled in Camden Market in 2014, measuring 5ft 9in tall and showing the late singer wearing the necklace.
The statue commemorates the life of Amy, who tragically died in 2011, and is often laden with flowers.
Amy, whose album Back to Black is one of the biggest sellers in British history, died in 2011 after a drunken binge.
The act has been condemned on social media and several users have called it “shameful.”
One person asked, “How far can some people go?”
Paul Madill posted: ‘That is absolutely disgraceful. “It is very sad to see this.”
Neil M Reggae simply wrote “disgusting” and Tom Fenn described the vandalism as “disgusting”
A spokesman for the 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 a criticism of Israel” excuse that we hear so often from anti-Semites who are too cowardly or ignorant to admit what they are.
People expressed their anger at the act online, with several users calling the incident “shameful.”
‘Right now, 69% of British Jews say they are less likely to show visible signs of their Judaism right now.
‘When not even a statue of a Jew can get away with it, is it any surprise?
“We have spoken to Camden Market who have confirmed that the sticker has now been removed.”
The statue, which measures 5ft 9in, 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 biggest sellers in British history, died in 2011 after a drunken binge.
Protesters gathered south of Park Lane on Saturday, holding signs calling for a “ceasefire now” and chanting “Free, free Palestine,” before leaving for a designated location near the Israeli embassy where speeches were given.
Among the speakers were former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn and the Palestinian ambassador to the United Kingdom, Husam Zomlot, who called for “justice” for the Palestinian people.
Just before 6.30pm, the Met posted on X, formerly Twitter: ‘Today’s protest has completely concluded.
A man appeared to argue with police as the procession became unruly at Hyde Park Corner.
Former Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn took part in Saturday’s pro-Palestine march in central London.
A woman was arrested after being seen holding a cardboard sign that said “Long live the Intifada”
The woman was arrested after allegedly waving a banner in support of a banned organisation.
‘There were 12 arrests for crimes related to signs, assaults on officers and refusal to remove the mask. Fortunately, none of the attacked officers were seriously injured.
‘Despite these arrests, the overwhelming majority of those who participated were peaceful and acted entirely within the law. We worked closely with the organizers and their management team before and during the protest and are grateful for their cooperation.’
Shocking images emerged after the march of pro-Palestinian protesters insulting a lone counter-protester who called Hamas terrorists.
Angry protesters threw objects at the man as he held a sign calling Hamas a “terrorist organization,” and members of the crowd also tried to rip the sign out of his hands.
The sign read: ‘Please don’t attack me! Do you agree that Hamas is a terrorist organization, yes or yes?
However, he appeared to provoke a furious response from some pro-Palestinian activists who threw bottles, dirt and other objects at him, while one person tried to hit him with a wooden stick.
The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled 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 around the country to maintain order.
A large number of slogans and banners could be seen along Park Lane, with protesters demanding an end to the siege of Gaza.
Others were heard shouting “w****r”, with chants of “Free, free Palestine” directed at him.
Some activists were seen urging those enraged by the sign to move away, while two security personnel were also seen trying to calm tensions.
MailOnline has contacted Camden Council and the Metropolitan Police for comment.