Denmark’s most famous statue has not been spared from the international debate on racism, and on Friday it was vandalised with the text “Racist Fish”.
The words were written on the stone on which the Little Mermaid sits at Langelinie Pier in Copenhagen where the 107-year-old statue is located – an iconic tourist attraction.
It remained unclear who vandalised the statue and why, but Copenhagen Police has already been notified about it, reports Ekstra Bladet.
Black Lives Matter
Designed by sculptor Edvard Eriksen, the Little Mermaid is made of bronze and granite and was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale.
Activists worldwide supporting the Black Lives Matter movement have in recent weeks vandalised or destroyed monuments of historical figures linked to racial oppression such as slave traders and colonial rulers.
The last time the Little Mermaid was vandalised was in January when unknown culprits scrawled the words “Free Hong Kong” on its stone as the city saw months of pro-democracy unrest against Chinese rule.
Target of vandalism
The landmark is frequently a target of vandalism. Over the years, the Little Mermaid has twice lost her head, had her arm sawn off and had paint poured on her several times.
Yet the statue is often restored, gazing wistfully across the water by the harbour.
