LOOK. Farmers destroy statue in Brussels and remove it from its pedestal | Peasant protest

Part of the monument in honor of John Cockerill on the Luxemburgplein in Ixelles has been removed from its pedestal. This is the statue of the mechanic Beaufort, one of the four workers depicted around the monument to the former Belgian-British industrialist.


Editorial


The statue was left on the ground, surrounded by burning pallets.

Luxembourg Square, near the European Parliament, is the heart of the farmers’ demonstration today. A thousand tractors have traveled to the capital from all corners of the country and abroad. The farmers want to express their dissatisfaction, ranging from the free trade agreements to the administrative burden, too strict European standards and too low prices.

Pioneers of the steel industry

The monument in honor of John Cockerill was created in 1872 by sculptor Armand Cattier and pays tribute to one of the pioneers of the steel industry in Belgium, as well as to the workers of the sector. These are represented by the four bronze statues that were placed around the industrialist.

The councilor for heritage of Ixelles, Yves Rouyet, will go to the scene to assess the damage, he reports to Belga.

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