Activists Demand Gandhi Statue Removal in Clarksdale, MS

Clarksdale, MS — As our nation faces centuries of racism, confederate statues are being removed across the United States. But in Clarksdale, Mississippi, a sculpture of Mahatma Gandhi, a proven racist, has been recently placed on the courthouse grounds of Coahoma County. Local residents and activists are demanding county officials remove the statue immediately.

Gandhi is known for his nonviolent protests against the British, and leading India to independence over 75 years ago. He is revered around the world, but Gandhi was a racist against Black Africans. In his writings, Gandhi referred to Black South Africans as "kaffirs" - a highly offensive racist slur. He also said that Indians were "infinitely superior" to Black people. Actions speak louder than words, and Gandhi played a pivotal role in maintaining apartheid in South Africa. “For me being in African Studies, we always have to look at who is the person in relation to us as African people. And if you look at Gandhi’s record throughout his entire life, you see consistency in terms of being pro-Indo-Aryan and that's his own word that he described himself as an anti-Black whether that was in South Africa against the Zulus there or in India against the Dalits there -- the Black Untouchables of India,” said Dr. Ọbádélé Kambon, professor of African Studies at the University of Ghana.

In October 2021, a large statue of Gandhi was installed on the lawn of Coahoma County courthouse. The statue was gifted by the Indian Council for Cultural Affairs and the Consulate General of India, and will be maintained with Coahoma County taxpayers’ dollars. There are many questions around who actually approved the placement of the Gandhi statue and why the approval was granted.

“In a city that is 80% Black, the sculpture of a racist should be removed and replaced with one of the legendary Black civil rights activists from Mississippi like Fannie Lou Hamer, Ida B Wells, Medgar Evers or Richard Wright,” said Cheryle Moses, activist, Racist Gandhi Movement.

In a strategy similar to that used by the Daughters of the Confederacy to place statues of civil war racists throughout the South, elites from India are attempting to place Gandhi statues throughout this country and abroad. Activists worldwide have been protesting Gandhi statues and – in many situations -- successful in removing or stopping the placements in California (North America), Georgia (North America), Ghana (Africa), Leicester (Europe), and Malawi (Africa). In fact, the high court judge in Malawi declared Gandhi as racist against Black people.

The Gandhi statue now located on the grounds of Coahoma County courtyard in Clarksdale, MS must be removed.

What: “Remove the Racist Gandhi Statue in Clarksdale” Protest

When: Friday, March 25, 2022 | Noon-3pm

Where: Coahoma County Courthouse, 115 First Street, Clarksdale, MS 38614

Who: Activists and Concerned Citizens of Coahoma County

Info: Racist Gandhi - https://racistgandhi.org/