In the heart of London’s Parliament Square, the statue of Sir Winston Churchill, a towering figure in British history, became the center of controversy once again after being defaced with pro-Palestinian graffiti in the early hours of February 27, 2026. The 12-foot bronze sculpture, a familiar fixture among statues of other world leaders like Abraham Lincoln and Nelson Mandela, was found covered in red spray-painted slogans: "Zionist war criminal," "Stop the Genocide," "Free Palestine," "Never again is Now," and "Globalise the Intifada." According to The Independent and Sky News, the vandalism was discovered shortly after 4 a.m., prompting a swift police response.
The Metropolitan Police reported that officers arrived on the scene within two minutes of being alerted. A 38-year-old man, observed spraying graffiti on the statue, was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage and remains in custody. The incident reignited debate about the protection of national monuments and the boundaries of protest, as the statue was quickly cordoned off and cleaning crews began the task of removing the graffiti.
Responsibility for the act was claimed by the Dutch activist group Free the Filton 24, which posted a video on Instagram showing a man in red coveralls, emblazoned with “I support Palestine Action,” painting the statue. Olax Outis, a Dutch member of the group, identified himself as the individual responsible, stating in a social media post that he defaced the statue "to draw attention to the horrible human rights violations happening in a country that's run by colonisers who refuse to listen to their people." Free the Filton 24 is known for its association with 24 Palestine Action activists charged over a break-in at an Israeli defense firm’s UK site in 2024.
The slogans sprayed on Churchill’s likeness were not chosen at random. "Globalise the Intifada," in particular, has become a flashpoint in recent months. In December 2025, both the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police announced that anyone chanting or displaying the phrase at demonstrations would face arrest. This policy shift came in the wake of terror attacks, including the Bondi Beach incident in Australia and the attack at Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester on October 2, 2025, both of which heightened tensions around pro-Palestinian activism and its perceived links to extremism. As Newsweek reported, police in London and Manchester have since taken a zero-tolerance approach to the slogan, viewing it as incitement in the context of rising threats to Jewish communities.
The reaction from authorities and community leaders was swift and unequivocal. A spokesperson for the Greater London Authority said, “We are appalled by this vandalism to the statue of Sir Winston Churchill and work is under way to remove the graffiti as quickly as possible.” Westminster City Council also condemned the act, echoing the sentiment that such attacks on public monuments are unacceptable.
Downing Street weighed in with a statement from a No 10 spokesperson: “It’s obviously a disgrace. It’s completely abhorrent. Churchill was a great Briton. This Government will always stand up for our values and the perpetrator must be held to account. We’re glad the police have made an arrest.”
Jewish organizations expressed deep concern over the incident. The Jewish Leadership Council described the defacement as “disgusting,” emphasizing that targeting the statue of “a British hero who led this country in the fight against the Nazis” combined “a hatred of Jews with a disdain for Britain.” Dave Rich, policy director at the Community Security Trust, noted on X (formerly Twitter), “This extremism is never just a threat to Jews.” Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, wrote, “One of the greatest champions for liberty, who defeated the Nazis, defaced. Zionism, the national liberation movement of the Jewish people, inverted. Santayana’s ‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,’ never truer.”
Political figures from across the spectrum also condemned the vandalism. Matt Vickers, deputy chair of the Conservative Party, told GB News, “It is disgusting and vile. Whoever is doing this needs to be held to account. When we were in office we brought forward legislation to help tackle this. This is an attack on democracy, this is an attack on this country, its culture and its history.” Broadcaster Piers Morgan added his voice on social media, saying, “Disgusting... and what these morons will never understand is that they're only free to do this in Britain because Churchill saved us from the Nazis.”
The Churchill statue has a long history of being a focal point for protest and controversy. Since its unveiling in 1973 by Lady Clementine Churchill, with Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother in attendance, the monument has been both revered and reviled. Churchill himself reportedly chose the statue’s location during the 1950s redevelopment of Parliament Square, underscoring its symbolic importance. Over the years, the statue has been repeatedly targeted: during the May Day riots in 2000, protestors placed turf on its head to give Churchill a punk appearance; in June 2020, amid Black Lives Matter protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, it was graffitied with accusations of racism; and later that year, an Extinction Rebellion activist was fined over £1,500 for painting “racist” on its plinth during a climate demonstration.
In response to these recurring incidents, the government took steps in 2025 to increase protections for the Churchill statue. New regulations made it a criminal offense to climb on the monument, with penalties including up to three months in prison and a £1,000 fine. The statue was also added to a list of protected national monuments, alongside the Cenotaph in Whitehall and the Royal Artillery Memorial, in an effort to deter acts of desecration and preserve memorials to British history.
The debate around Churchill’s legacy remains contentious. While he is celebrated as the wartime leader who steered Britain through its darkest hours, critics point to his imperialist views and support for Zionism, including his backing of the 1917 Balfour Declaration and the creation of Israel in 1948. These aspects of his record have fueled both admiration and protest, with the Parliament Square statue serving as a lightning rod for competing historical narratives and contemporary political grievances.
As of Friday afternoon, the man arrested in connection with the vandalism had not yet been charged, but police investigations continue. The graffiti was being painstakingly removed, and the statue—once again—stood as a symbol not only of Britain’s past, but also of the nation’s ongoing struggle to balance free expression, historical memory, and respect for public spaces.
The events of February 27, 2026, underline how monuments like Churchill’s remain potent symbols, capable of reflecting both the pride and the divisions of modern Britain.