London, vandals hammer Karl Marx's grave. The damage is permanent

The grave of philosopher Karl Marx (Trier, 1818 - London, 1883) in London’s Highgate Cemetery was vandalized: unknown persons pounced on the marble headstone of Marx’s tomb, causing damage assessed as permanent by experts (the response was released by the Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust, the body that manages a monumental cemetery, the most famous in London, also a tourist destination because of its sights that have inspired films and novels, and because of the illustrious personalities buried there). This is the slab of Marx’s original tomb, dating from 1883, incorporated into the monument created in 1954.

Vandals abraded the surface of the marble with a hammer, and according to Ian Dungavell, chief executive of the Trust, the attack has a clear political motive, since no other graves near Marx’s were damaged. “We think this was a deliberate attack that targeted the figure of Karl Marx,” he explained to the Guardian. “This was not a random act. You can see from the photographs that the perpetrator did his best to erase Karl Marx’s name.” Dungavell condemned the violent act: “regardless of what anyone may think of Marx’s philosophy, I think it is still a terrible act. Also on a human level: this, in addition to his grave, is also that of his wife and other members of his family. If someone disagrees with Marx’s theories, he can indeed work to change people’s opinions rather than destroy the monument. This will not gain any sympathy for the anti-Marxist cause.”

Investigations are currently underway to identify the perpetrators of the vandalism. For now, certain is that the work will never be the same again.

In the photo released by the Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust, the damaged plaque.

London, vandals hammer Karl Marx's grave. The damage is permanent

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