Campaign for £150k statue of abolitionist launched
The statue, called “abolition”, has been added to the permanent collection at Leicester Museum
- Published
A campaign to raise £150,000 to build a statue of a 19th Century anti-slavery campaigner from Leicester has been launched.
Elizabeth Heyrick, born in the late 1700s, fought for the immediate abolition of slavery and campaigned for workers’ rights, prisoner welfare and electoral reform.
On the 200th anniversary of her pamphlet “immediate, not gradual abolition”, a small sculpture of Heyrick was unveiled at Leicester Museum.
It is now hoped a large-scale replica, which could be displayed in the city, can be funded.
Jess Jenkins, from the Elizabeth Heyrick Society, said the abolitionist played a crucial role in shaping public opinion of slavery.
She said the society is now aiming to raise enough funds to build a much bigger version of the statue.
“Elizabeth Heyrick defied all the politicians and the male abolitionists who said slavery should be abolished gradually, and said it was an abomination that must be got rid of immediately," she said.
"Her pamphlet was sold in its thousands amongst women’s societies, but elsewhere in this country and in America.
Leicester Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said he hopes to see work start on a large-scale sculpture
”It was her voice that triumphed in the end, they took out the word ‘gradual’, and put in the word ‘immediate’ emancipation.
"That’s someone from Leicester that did that, and a woman, so that’s an amazing achievement on so many levels.”
Sculptor, Corinne Lambert, was commissioned with creating the small artwork after members of the public voted for Heyrick to be honoured with a statue in a poll by family history company Findmypast.
Leicester Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said he hopes enough can be raised to see work start on a large-scale sculpture.
He added: “What is quite evident is there ought to be such a work and it ought to be out there for all to be reminded of the pioneering work which she did and her importance in securing the abolition of slavery.”
The sculpture of Elizabeth Heyrick, called “abolition”, has been added to the permanent collection at Leicester Museum.
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