Following the recent discovery of more than 1,100 unmarked graves where indigenous children were buried in the past, statues of Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Victoria, and Captain Cook were vandalized and toppled on Canada's national day.

Against Friday (AEST), a series of attacks on statues occurred across Canada, following a wave of church burnings as demonstrators expressed their rage at the organizations that ran the residential schools that children were forced to attend in British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

“It’s real and it is fully understandable given the shameful history we are all become more aware of,” he told a news conference.

“I can’t help but think that burning down churches is actually depriving people who are in need of grieving and healing and mourning from places where they can grieve and reflect and look for support.”

While Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned arson and vandalism, he acknowledged that many people are angry with the federal government and the Catholic church. The government has apologized for the schools, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a devout Catholic, has asked Pope Francis to issue an official apology.
The statues of Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth on the grounds of the Manitoba legislature were tied with ropes and brought down by a crowd on Thursday night local time (Friday AEST).

The base of a statue of Queen Victoria was marred with tiny crimson handprints and smeared with red paint. As spectators screamed "bring her down," it was then toppled to the ground by a rope around its neck. Later, the head was severed and thrown into the Winnipeg River.

The nearby statue of Queen Elizabeth was tipped over and left face down on the ground.