Mayor approves plan for UK memorial to honour victims of transatlantic slave trade

London mayor Boris Johnson has given his backing to a campaign for the construction of a slavery memorial in Hyde Park.

The group Memorial 2007 wants to erect a statue to commemorate the millions of enslaved Africans affected by the transatlantic slave trade.


Boris Johnson
Johnson: "It is important that this era in our history is never forgotten."

A model of the chosen design, by sculptor Les Johnson, was put on show at City Hall yesterday and will be exhibited until 1 December.

Johnson said: 鈥淚t is important that this era in our history is never forgotten. Hyde Park is a fitting site for a permanent memorial to the millions who lost their lives and the courageous people who fought to end the brutal transatlantic slave trade.鈥

The statue would be placed in the Rose Garden of London's Hyde Park.