Controversial Return: Pizarro Statue Reinstated in Lima Amid Protests

Francisco Pizarro's statue has been unveiled in Lima during the city's 490th anniversary, igniting controversy as many Peruvians oppose its return, viewing it as an affront to indigenous communities.

A statue of Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro has made a contentious return to the heart of Lima, Peru's capital, celebrating the city's 490th anniversary since its founding. Originally unveiled in 1935 to commemorate the fourth centenary of Lima by American sculptor Charles Rumsey, the statue was removed over 20 years ago due to growing criticism of Pizarro's legacy and its perceived glorification of colonial oppression.

Pizarro, who conquered the Inca Empire in 1535, is hailed by some as the founder of Lima while many indigenous leaders condemn him as a mass murderer responsible for the destruction of their culture. Supporters of the statue's return argued that historical figures should not be erased but understood in the context of their time.

The bronze sculpture, depicting Pizarro on horseback with his sword drawn, was relocated to a park adjacent to train tracks in 2003 after it became damaged from years of neglect. Lima's Mayor Rafael López Aliaga, alongside Isabel Díaz Ayuso of the Community of Madrid and descendants of Pizarro, presided over the reinstatement ceremony in the iconic Plaza de Armas.

Díaz Ayuso emphasized the event's dual significance, signaling both the birth of a city and a transformative historical encounter that reshaped the globe. However, the return of the statue sparked protests, with demonstrators labeling it an affront to indigenous peoples in Peru and beyond. "This is an offence, an offence to all the indigenous peoples of Peru, Latin America, and the world," one protester articulated, underlining the deeply divided sentiments surrounding Pizarro's legacy.